Here's What's Going On With The Taraji P. Henson And Keith Lee Drama At The BET Awards
Taraji P. Henson had an embarrassing moment at Sunday's BET Awards when she confused YouTuber Jordan Howlett for food critic Keith Lee.
Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images, Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for BET
The actor had been handing out roses to different audience members when she passed one to Jordan, thinking he was the beloved TikTok critic.
Upon realizing her mistake, Taraji immediately apologized and rushed over to Keith, saying she was "so sorry" for mixing him up. And while Keith ultimately accepted her flower, he was later seen throwing it on the ground in a since-deleted TikTok.
"Our name will be known in every room it's supposed to be, when it's supposed to be, how it's supposed [to be], with no confusion," he wrote in the post. "God is amazing."
In a follow-up video, Keith clarified, "I am not upset with Taraji P. Henson by any stretch of the imagination. And not only that, in my opinion, she smoked [the show]."
Keith said he only dropped his flower because it didn't feel like it was truly for him. "The reason I did this had nothing to do with Taraji P. Henson," he stressed. "The reason I did this is that I wholeheartedly believe it wasn't my rose. It wasn't my moment. It was given to me, but it wasn't mine."
"I always say, I don't want nothing that wasn't mine," Keith continued, explaining that his issue rested solely with production, which he said felt "rushed" and not "intentional" and "purposeful."
"Never once was I upset that Taraji didn't know who I was," Keith insisted. "Everything that's for me, will be for me. Everything that's for my family, will be for my family. ... While I appreciate the opportunity, it wasn't my moment."
Taraji commented on the initial video underneath a blog post, saying, "Life really is too short for this behavior. He wasn't in his seat. They give celebrity assigned seats! I rehearsed all damn day to go hit my mark and that young man wasn't in his seat so HE MISSED HIS MOMENT! His ego is hurt. He will be fine. I cleaned it up at the end of the show. No love lost here. #Godbless."
People had thoughts on the situation, too.
Some said it was a bit of an overreaction on Keith's part:
Keith Lee really be explaining himself too much lol
— Sun Ra (@KailSovl) July 2, 2024
you do food reviews on tik tok, not everyone knows you… it was an honest mistake smh
— braxkins (@braxkinsmood) July 1, 2024
But some also defended him...
keith lee explained his feelings so well. said he had no ill feelings toward taraji and gave her, her flowers. why would she respond in such a nasty way????
— ❤️🔥 G A W D ❤️🔥 (@_benjvmins_) July 3, 2024
Keith Lee did not do “a lot”. Y’all are so used to accepting disrespect and scraps, that it triggers you when someone (who looks like you) advocates for themselves.
— Amber Takahashi (@ambertakahashi) July 2, 2024
People defended Taraji, too:
I think the people coming at Taraji for talking to the wrong person don’t realize they’re on a set timer with a huge camera in their face. She probably was more focused on her script than who she was talking to; not that she doesn’t know who Keith Lee is.
— Summer D’on (@summerdonbell) July 2, 2024
I see how yall treating Taraji, & I don’t like it!!!!!
— anaaa⚡️ (@muvaaana) July 2, 2024
What do you all make of the situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.