Snubs and Surprises – Billboard

Angela Bassett and Beyoncé had been the highest particular person winners on the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, with three awards every. Bassett took the highest award – entertainer of the 12 months – and opened her speech by having just a little little bit of enjoyable with Ariana DeBose’s widely-mocked rap eventually weekend’s Brit Awards, the place the younger star rapped, “Angela Bassett did the thing.”

“I guess Angela Bassett did the thing,” Bassett stated, to a lot laughter. This marked the primary time all 5 entertainer of the 12 months nominees had been ladies. The different nominees had been Mary J. Blige, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis and Zendaya.

Bassett additionally gained excellent supporting actress in a movement image for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and excellent actress in a drama [TV] collection for 9-1-1 on FOX. The veteran actress is taken into account the front-runner to win an Oscar within the Oscar for finest supporting actress on March 12. (DeBose gained in that class final 12 months for the reboot of West Side Story.)

All three of Beyoncé’s classes had been introduced previous to Saturday and she wasn’t current on the telecast. She took excellent album for Renaissance (her third win within the class), excellent soul/R&B tune for “Cuff It” and excellent feminine artist (her record-extending seventh win within the class).

Chris Brown, Brunson, Ryan Coogler and Davis every gained two awards. (Some of their reveals additionally gained awards; this counts solely awards introduced to people.)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gained excellent movement image, simply as the unique Black Panther did 4 years in the past. This marks the second time in three years {that a} franchise movie has gained on this class. Two years in the past, the award went to Bad Boys for Life, the third movie in that franchise.

ABC’s Abbott Elementary gained excellent comedy [TV] collection. The present was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in that very same class final 12 months and whereas it didn’t win, it’s virtually a foregone conclusion that it’s going to win this 12 months.

That doesn’t imply there have been no surprises on the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards, which had been introduced at nightly ceremonies this previous week, culminating in a dwell broadcast on Saturday (Feb. 25) from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif. The present, ably hosted by Queen Latifah, aired on BET and was additionally simulcast throughout a dozen Paramount Global networks together with CBS, MTV, VH1 and CMT.

One of the most important surprises is that Kendrick Lamar didn’t win a factor. The acclaimed rapper acquired 5 nominations, which put him in a tie with Beyoncé for essentially the most nods by anybody within the music classes. But the place she gained three awards this 12 months, he was shut out.

Another hip-hop celebrity, Drake, went 0-3 this 12 months.

Without additional ado, listed here are 14 Snubs & Surprises on the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.

Snub: Kendrick Lamar

Lamar misplaced excellent male artist (which he has but to win) to Chris Brown (who gained it for the third time). In addition, Lamar’s Billboard 200-topping Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers misplaced excellent album to Renaissance; “Die Hard” (that includes Blxt & Amanda Reifer) misplaced excellent duo, group or collaboration (conventional) to Silk Sonic’s “Love’s Train”; and “The Heart Part 5” misplaced twice. It misplaced excellent hip hop/rap tune to “Hotel Lobby” by Quavo and Takeoff and excellent music video/visible album to Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.”
Surprise: Will Smith

It each is and isn’t a shock that Smith gained excellent actor in a movement image for Emancipation. This was his first nomination right here since The Slap on final 12 months’s Oscar telecast, which tarnished his picture and imperiled his profession. Smith additionally gained right here final 12 months for King Richard, the function that introduced him his first Oscar. Smith is the primary actor to win back-to-back Image Awards on this class since Denzel Washington scored in 2002-03 with Training Day and John Q, respectively. Smith wasn’t available to obtain his award. Instead, presenter Janelle Monáe merely accepted it on his behalf.
Snub: Samara Joy

Joy gained two Grammys on Feb. 5 – finest new artist and finest jazz vocal album for Linger Awhile. So you would possibly suppose she’d be a shoo-in to win right here for excellent jazz album – vocal. Nope. The award went to Adam Blackstone’s Legacy. Blackstone can also be coming off a significant award win. He gained his first Primetime Emmy in September for excellent music path for The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent.
Surprise: Coco Jones

Jones took excellent new (recording) artist for “ICU” over Steve Lacy for Gemini Rights, amongst others. Lacy’s album gained a Grammy for finest progressive R&B album and spawned the smash “Bad Habit,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks.
Snub: Future’s “Wait for U”

The hit by Future that includes Drake and Tems topped the Billboard Hot 100 and gained a Grammy for finest melodic rap efficiency. But it got here up quick in each classes wherein it was nominated right here. It misplaced excellent hip hop/rap tune to “Hotel Lobby” by Quavo and Takeoff and excellent duo group or collaboration (up to date) to Chris Brown that includes Wizkid’s “Call Me Every Day.”
Surprise: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Prince-Bythewood gained excellent directing in a movement image for The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing). She beat Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, amongst others. This is Prince-Bythewood’s record-setting third win within the class, following The Secret Life of Bees (2009) and The Old Guard (2021). Coogler has gained twice within the class for Creed (2016) and Black Panther (2019). Coogler gained two awards on the evening – excellent writing in a movement image and excellent soundtrack/compilation album, each for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Snub: Jerrod Carmichael

Jerrod Carmichael gained his first Primetime Emmy in September for excellent writing for a spread particular for his HBO Max particular, Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel, however he misplaced within the equal class (excellent writing in a tv film or particular) right here. The winner? Netflix’s Entergalactic, with a narrative by Scott Mescudi (higher referred to as Kid Cudi) and written by Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams.
Surprise: Keke Palmer

Palmer gained excellent character voice-over efficiency – movement image. She beat out a pair of previous Oscar nominees – Angela Bassett (nominated for Wendell & Wild) and Taraji P. Henson (nominated for Minions: The Rise of Gru).
Snub: Sheryl Lee Ralph

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Ralph gained her first Primetime Emmy in September for excellent supporting actress in a comedy collection for her function in Abbott Elementary, however misplaced right here to her castmate Janelle James. Both had been vying right here for excellent supporting actress in a comedy collection. The two actresses introduced the primary award on the telecast. Ralph warmly congratulated James on her win the earlier evening.
Surprise: Tabitha Brown

The host of Tab Time on You Tube Originals gained excellent host in a actuality/actuality competitors, recreation present or selection (collection or particular) – particular person or ensemble. (That class title is longer than the present!) Her win was candy as a result of she was up towards 4 main names – Lizzo for Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Trevor Noah for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Taraji P. Henson for internet hosting the 2022 BET Awards and Keke Palmer for NBC’s revival of Password. Tab Time additionally gained excellent youngsters’s program.
Snub: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’

Guillermo del Toro’s movie is the front-runner to win the Oscar for finest animated characteristic movie, but it surely misplaced excellent animated movement image right here to Wendell & Wild. The latter movie wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar.
Surprise: Nicco Annan

The star of Starz’ P-Valley gained excellent actor in a drama [TV] collection, beating, amongst others, Sterling Ok. Brown of NBC’s just-wrapped This Is Us (who gained on this class twice). Annan stars as Uncle Clifford Sayles, the non-binaryowner and proprietor of a strip membership known as The Pynk within the fictional metropolis of Chucalissa, Miss. P-Valley additionally gained excellent drama collection.
Not a Surprise: Michelle Obama

Image Award voters appear to desire the true Michelle Obama to a dramatized model. ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, a Conversation with Robin Roberts gained excellent information/info (collection or particular). But Viola Davis’ portrayal of the previous first woman on The First Lady (Showtime) misplaced within the class of excellent actress in a tv film, limited-series or dramatic particular. (The winner there was Niecy Nash-Betts, taking part in the suspicious neighbor on Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.)
Not a Surprise, however Really?: Jennifer Hudson

Hudson took excellent host in a chat or information/info (collection or particular) – particular person or ensemble for the primary season of her syndicated The Jennifer Hudson Show. That’s not a shock. Hudson is an EGOT, in spite of everything. Her competitors included Lester Holt for NBC Nightly News. These reveals – a resolutely optimistic daytime speak present and a night information broadcast – shouldn’t be in the identical class. It’s not likely truthful to both.