The 2024 BET Awards In Memoriam segment, typically a time to break out the tissues and remember the dearly departed cultural icons, took a wild left turn this year that left viewers with their jaws on the floor and their thumbs furiously tweeting. Instead of the usual somber montage, the audience was treated to a moment of “Wait, what?!” as O.J. Simpson made the list, identified simply as a “former NFL player.” Talk about burying the lead!
Now, let’s be real, Simpson was indeed a football legend. But, like that one guest at a party who just won’t leave, his notoriety for other, let’s say, less athletic activities tends to overshadow his time on the field. You know, just minor stuff like a sensational murder trial and a little armed robbery. No biggie.
The ever-charming Tia Mowry kicked off the segment with a heartfelt tribute, urging everyone to honor the “Black excellence that we unfortunately lost this year.” She spoke about the legacies of those who have left us, making it sound like a warm group hug. “It’s never easy to say goodbye to those who influence us, but we can take a moment to celebrate and acknowledge their contributions to the culture,” she said, probably expecting the usual nods of agreement.
But then, BAM! O.J. Simpson’s face pops up, and suddenly everyone’s looking around like, “Did I miss a memo?” The mood took a sharp U-turn from nostalgic to “You gotta be kidding me.”
Social media erupted faster than you can say “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” One particularly spicy comment on X (formerly Twitter, because rebranding is cool) summed it up perfectly: “lol OJ Simpson in memoriam for anything is WILD no matter how you slice it.” With over 2,500 likes in no time, it was clear people had a lot of feelings about this surprise guest appearance. The memes were relentless, with everyone from Kermit the Frog sipping tea to Captain Picard facepalming in disbelief.
This little snafu has everyone talking about what exactly the criteria are for these tributes. Is it a celebration of their entire life, or are we supposed to just squint and focus on the good parts, like looking at a Picasso painting? Either way, this year’s BET Awards In Memoriam segment will definitely be one for the history books… or at least the blooper reel.
