“Don’t give up on yourself no matter what,” Nicki said in her memorable speech. “This is for everyone in this room. I want to tell you to please make it your business to follow your dreams because one day you will look around and your dream will be gone and you will be mad at somebody. But be mad at your g–d—self.”
She concluded by flipping her hair, flashing a smile and walking off the stage. Although Nicki never named Lil Kim directly in the speech, many are speculating she was referring to the 90s star, who hasn’t really released any new music since the early 2000s. The opportunity for Nicki to make the diss was perfect, too, because earlier in the show, Kim produced major buzz for reuniting with Diddy and other former Bad Boy members during an epic surprise performance.
In case you forgot, Nicki and Lil Kim have a bit of history that includes some beef. In 2014, Kim used her music to call Nicki out, rapping on her track “Identity Theft,” “Anything you tryna do, I done did, I gave birth to your style.” Ouch! That same month, Kim spit a verse on one of Beyoncé’s songs, “Flawless,” which Nicki had just remixed one day earlier. “Am I trippin’ or did this h- just say my name? Queen of rap, f— outta here. Queen’s back, f— outta here,” she sang.
Nicki Minaj’s Embarrassing Mistake In BET Awards Speech
Meanwhile, Nicki’s speech received attention for more than just her diss! While accepting the exciting award, she actually forgot what category she was up on stage for. “What was this award for? I’m sorry!” she asked, during the speech. Once she realized it was the Viewer’s Choice, though, she got super excited. “Viewer’s choice?!” she confirmed. “Oh my God, y’all, thank you! I was in the back.”
Tell us, HollywoodLifers: Do you think Nicki was throwing shade at Lil Kim? What do you think of the diss?
— Alyssa Norwin