00:00No matter how big I get in my career,
00:04no matter how high my star may rise,
00:08I will never forget my community.
00:11The community is who told Hollywood,
00:14hey, pay attention to her.
00:17Ready?
00:21What's up, guys?
00:22I'm Taraji P. Henson.
00:23I am your host for the 2022 BET Awards.
00:27I'm Brandi Victoria with Essence Magazine.
00:30Thank you so much for speaking with me.
00:32You know, for last year, BET Awards,
00:34you delivered such a great opening monologue
00:36where you just talked about, you know,
00:37this is a place you could be as Black as you want to be,
00:40you know, essentially.
00:41Can you talk about your relationship with BET over the years,
00:44how they've championed your career
00:45and what keeps you, you know, returning to host?
00:50No matter how big I get in my career,
00:54no matter how high my star may rise,
00:58I will never forget my community.
01:01The community is who told Hollywood,
01:04hey, pay attention to her.
01:06And where would I be without my community?
01:10I mean, as many times as they play Baby Boy.
01:15I mean, it just is home for me.
01:19You know what I mean?
01:19And that's why I did my deal there
01:22because I was getting sick and tired
01:24of going to places where I was being tolerated.
01:28I wanted to be where the work
01:30and my ideas were going to be celebrated
01:32and not just sit on the shelf.
01:35You know, I personally got to see you host
01:37for the first time.
01:38I think it was 2013 at McDonald's 365 Black Awards
01:42during Essence Fest.
01:44During the live recording,
01:45I remember like, oh my God, I could never.
01:47Like just getting such natural talent,
01:50the energy you kept up during takes.
01:52Like what is it that you enjoy about hosting
01:54and how does it differ for you from acting?
01:57I'm a people person and I love live theater.
02:01Like that's where I was trained.
02:03And it's the human connection.
02:06It's the call and response.
02:09It's the live interaction.
02:11I feed the audience and the audience feeds me.
02:14Do you get any like jitters beforehand?
02:17Absolutely.
02:18Okay.
02:19Absolutely.
02:20That's how I know I'm alive.
02:24So what's like your pre-show ritual if you haven't?
02:29Oh, you know, we always pray.
02:32I act silly backstage.
02:34I get it all out.
02:36My team is really good with helping with my jitters
02:40and keeping me calm.
02:41I have an incredible team around me
02:43and we laugh and joke all the way
02:45from the beginning to the end of the night.
02:47What do you tell us about looks?
02:49Because I know you like to switch it up and that.
02:52Are there any designers you're working with,
02:53hair looks?
02:54Can you give us a little sneak peek?
02:56I, Jason Rembert, my stylist,
02:59is working on all of the looks.
03:02I kind of just stay out of the way.
03:04Tim Wallace is doing my hair.
03:07Saisha is doing my makeup.
03:09I just let them get together
03:11and I just, I am,
03:13I call myself their paper doll.
03:14And then, you know,
03:15you are just known for being this champion of women
03:18and just like sisterhood with Black women in Hollywood.
03:21Are there going to be any types of moments
03:23like that during the show you might be able to share?
03:26Well, I think last year,
03:30we focused a lot on the women
03:31and, you know, where would we be without our men?
03:35So I think this year,
03:35I kind of want to shift the focus
03:37and kind of lift them up
03:38and give them the love they so need and deserve.
03:44And do you have a favorite part of the show?
03:46You know, a lot of fans,
03:47like they love the tributes,
03:48but then it's like the gospel moment comes
03:50and you're crying and all that.
03:51Like, are there any segments that you always love?
03:56I love all of the segments
03:58because that's just who I am.
04:00I'm a little bit of gospel.
04:01I'm a little bit of track.
04:03I'm a little bit of, you know what I mean?
04:05Give them some of everything.
04:06And that's what makes this show
04:07culture's biggest night
04:08because it is all that culture has to offer.
04:11And that's what's so great.
04:13Now, who has been your favorite host
04:14outside of yourself of B2 wars over the years?
04:18Oh my God, there's been several.
04:20I will never forget when Monique did,
04:24she came out and did the Beyonce.
04:27And she had all the thick girls up there.
04:31That was fire.
04:32I'll never forget that opening.
04:33I will never, ever, ever forget Regina Hall.
04:37My girl, what was it?
04:38Two or three years ago
04:39when she brought Go-Go to the BET Awards.
04:42That was amazing.
04:45Just so many memorable moments.
04:47Jamie Foxx is, you know, he's a comedian.
04:50What do you expect?
04:50Well, lastly, last question.
04:55What can you tell us about your deal with BET
04:57and like what we might see coming soon?
05:01Just more diverse characters.
05:04You know, the first project they just announced
05:06is the one Queenie,
05:08which I have been dying to see her story
05:11because we know all of the men
05:14that came from under her,
05:16like Godfather of Harlem.
05:22What's his name?
05:23Bumpy.
05:24Bumpy.
05:27Bumpy and then American Gangster Fred.
05:30What was his last name?
05:31Frank Lucas.
05:32Right, that's what I was thinking.
05:32Frank Lucas.
05:33I said Fred.
05:34Frank Lucas.
05:35See, they are,
05:36and no one knows Queenie's story.
05:38Like she was the godmother
05:39before there was a godfather.
05:41She raised the godfather
05:43and her story was interesting
05:44because it wasn't about selling drugs.
05:47She was just running numbers
05:48and taking care of the community.
05:49And I don't think anybody really knows that.
05:51And so, you know,
05:53just more diverse stories,
05:55stories that are great representation
05:56of our diverse culture.
06:00There's so many stories to tell
06:01when it comes to, you know,
06:03the black culture.
06:04Definitely trying to bring
06:05the mental health piece there
06:07because we need that.
06:08You know, I'm an advocate
06:09for getting us healthy mentally.
06:11So, yeah, more stories
06:15that show our diversity
06:18as a culture.
06:20Well, thank you so much.
06:22Excited to see you host.
06:23And thank you for your time.
06:26Take care.
06:26Be safe.
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