Photo Credit: BET Awards
Diddy’s name appears on the ballot designed to pick who will be nominated for this year’s BET Awards, despite being embroiled in multiple lawsuits stemming from sexual assault allegations.
The first round of voting to select the nominees for this year’s BET Awards kicked off this week, and Sean “Diddy” Combs — the music mogul currently involved in multiple controversies and sexual assault allegations — appears on the ballot multiple times.
His latest release, The Love Album: Off the Grid, is up for consideration for album of the year, while the track “Closer to God” with Teyana Taylor from the same album is up for best collaboration. His guest appearance on Metro Boomin’s “Creepin’,” also featuring 21 Savage and The Weeknd, is on the ballot for video of the year.
Though the album didn’t debut to major acclaim on the charts, its high-profile collaborations with artists like The Weeknd, Mary J. Blige, Burna Boy, John Legend, and Justin Bieber have provided some staying power since its release in September 2023. The album was even up for a Grammy, Diddy’s first nomination in 20 years, though he lost to SZA’s SOS.
But the week after his Grammy nom, Diddy was slapped with a sexual assault lawsuit from his former partner and employee, singer Cassie Ventura. Though the two settled the lawsuit just two days later, more lawsuits from others began to pop up with similar claims of sexual assault and harassment. Diddy and his legal team have systematically denied all allegations.
And the controversies haven’t stopped there. In March, Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by Homeland Security per a federal investigation into allegations of human trafficking. That investigation is not confirmed to be tied to any specific lawsuit against Combs, but many of the allegations in the lawsuits are notably similar, including sexual assault and providing drugs to minors.
The first round of voting for the BET Awards 2024 will close on May 7, while the show itself will kick off on June 30 in Los Angeles. Before the ceremony, BET will host pre-weekend festivities, including the return of the BET Experience. That set will feature performances from artists like Cardi B, Gunna, Sexyy Red, Davido, Queen Latifah, The Roots, Common, and the Jungle Brothers.
