Awkwardddddd .
Taraji P. Henson had an embarrassing moment at Sunday’s BET Awards when she confused YouTuber Jordan Howlett for food criticKeith Lee.
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.
In a follow-upvideo, 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.”
💕 Keith Speaks 💕 God Is Amazing 🙏 🏽#foodcritic 💕 @Ronni Lee @Taraji P. Henson @BET electronic web
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 explain himself too much lol
you do food reviews on tik tok , not everyone know you … it was an honest error smh
But some also defended him…
keith lee explained his feelings so well . said he had no sick tactile sensation toward taraji and give her , her flower . why would she react in such a nasty agency ? ? ? ?
Keith Lee did not do “ a lot” . Y’all are so used to accept disrespect and scraps , that it triggers you when someone ( who looks like you ) advocate for themselves .
People defended Taraji, too:
I think the people coming at Taraji for talking to the wrong somebody do n’t understand they ’re on a set timer with a huge photographic camera in their look . She credibly was more focused on her script than who she was talking to ; not that she does n’t jazz who Keith Lee is .
I see how y all address Taraji , & I do n’t like it ! ! ! ! !
