TSU student takes BET Fan Fest

Everyone looks forward to the BET Awards every year, but leading up to the grand awards show is the Fan Fest, which Shea Moisture presented. Fan Fest is filled with brand activations, celebrity appearances, live concerts, food, and more. It went on for two days at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 

Saturday, June 7th, was the annual BET Open Casting call. Over five hundred people lined up to audition for host, actor, singer, or dancer roles for upcoming BET productions. People flew from all over the country; some were in line as early as 4 AM. Robi Reed, the primary casting director, spearheaded this event. Auditionees would showcase their skills in front of a panel of judges, including Yvette Nicole Brown, Bentley Evans, and other award-winning Hollywood elites. 

Multiple activities were happening simultaneously, including the Celebrity Basketball game hosted by MC Lyte, Lola Brooke as the celebrity announcer, and Bow Wow. When asked the outcome of the game, he told us, “I ain’t score, I ain’t sweat, I feel good.” Players of this anticipated game included Anthony Hamilton Jr., G-Herbo, Cordae, Mario, Hunxho, Zoe Spencer, and many more. Flau’jae, Offset, Matt Barnes, and Ty Young coached this star-studded game. The stadium's energy was lively as fans cheered for their favorite celebrities on the court. When asked if he enjoyed the game, G Herbo said, “Yeah, for sure, for sure. Shoutout BET, they put on every year, it’s the culture!”

On Sunday, the BET Arena hosted an AAU Clinic and a West Coast Dance Competition. 

Bow Wow also hosted a live recreation of the popular show 106 & Park. Along with Kash Doll and Lola Brooke, four emcees battled to become the next king or queen of Freestyle Saturday. Internet comedian Druski hit the stage for a live Twitch stream of the 106 & Park reunion on Sunday. There was also a showing of Benny Boom’s Pulse of the Kingdom.

There was an activation called Sista’s Salon, where the cast of Tyler Perry’s Sistas spoke on a panel hosted by Shy Taylor. At this activation, people got their hair, makeup, and nails done for free while stylists educated patrons on hair and nail care. It is safe to say that attendees were satisfied with the outcome of this activation. It shined a positive light on the beauty industry and had many booths for people to visit, alongside food and music. There were also beauty products available.

An entire corner dedicated to food included a Marathon Burger, a Burger King block party, a Pepsi Challenge, a pastry showdown, and even an interactive mocktail demonstration. 

Fan Fest also hosted segments called Industry Talks on Saturday and Sunday with popular moguls. The cast of Divorce Sistas had a meet and greet. Rapper 2 Chainz and actor Omar Epps shed light on the new short film Red Clay, which they co-wrote. There were also industry talks about Black gaming, telling stories through tattoo ink, tech, and AI, and Black people making investments. Comedian Kev On Stage was also present for an Industry Talk on Sunday. Sunday’s Industry Talks included monetizing African culture, music executives, sports careers, and dance business insiders. 

Throughout the convention center, there were various vendors, activations, and so much more. An entire corner was dedicated to gaming, and they even had a roller skating rink. People of all ages could enjoy the fun activities. For those 21 and up, they had Club Eden, which always had a line to get in.

Who performed on the main stage? A massive lineup of artists performed on Saturday night, including Anycia, Crime Mob, Amerie, Mario, Bossman DLOW, and Glorilla. On Sunday, they showcased 41, Laila!, Larussel, and Kalan.frfr, Keri Hilson, Pretty Ricky, Bia, and DJ Mustard. The crowd went wild for every performance, and many celebrities hung out backstage.

Overall, Fan Fest was two days of interaction, community, celebration, and stars all in one place to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the BET Awards. There was something for people with all sorts of interests, whether it’s trying new foods, exploring brand activations, or seeing their favorite artists perform live. It's safe to say that this event was a success.

June 22, 2025

By: Lealer Sims