Award show acceptance speeches have long been a platform for artists from all creative industries to take a stand.
In 1972, Jane Fonda accepted her Best Actress Oscar with a speech against America’s war in Vietnam. A year later, Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to reject his Best Actor award for The Godfather on his behalf, in protest of the treatment of Native Americans. From protesting the Iraq war to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, Black Lives Matter, and the #MeToo movement, we have come to appreciate the platform that speech times provide during awards season.
At this week’s BET Awards, Doechii was the latest in the line of many to take on this mantle—dressed in head-to-toe Miu Miu, no less. Accepting her award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, she began by acknowledging her fellow nominees before taking the time to address the leading sociopolitical issues of the time.
The ‘Anxiety’ singer began by addressing the anti-ICE immigration raid protests happening in LA, not too far away from where the ceremony was taking place at Peacock Theatre, and the US federal government’s authoritarian response to the protestors.
“There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,” she declared. “Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. And I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?”
She went on to address the weight of influence and the responsibility celebrities hold in 2025.
“I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people: for Black people, for Latino people, for Trans people, for the people in Gaza.”
While some may be cynical about celebrities speaking on political issues, we know that influential names can make significant waves with their solidarity and draw attention to issues that matter. That said, speaking up can come with great risk, especially for a budding artist like Doechii. But at last night’s awards, she still chose to be the role model we need in these times.
Watch her full acceptance speech below.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.
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