B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
With a speech about his own inspirational dream for the Black community, Sean "Diddy" Combs channelled the spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. while accepting the BET Awards' highest honour Sunday night.
After Combs received his Lifetime Achievement Award, the music mogul said God put a special message in his heart to deliver his "new dream." He was presented the award by Babyface and Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), who called Combs his "favourite artist" growing up.
"I got this dream of Black people being free," Combs said, with Babyface and Ye standing behind him at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. "I got this dream of us controlling our own destiny. I got this dream of us taking accountability and stop killing each other. I got this dream of us being rich and wealthy and living on the same block. I have this dream of us unifying."
The BET Awards celebrate the contributions that people of colour have made through the entertainment realm, highlighting winners in 19 categories, including film and sports.
Doja Cat, Drake and Ari Lennox entered the awards with the most nominations, but came away with no trophies. Silk Sonic -- formed by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak -- won two awards including album of the year for their project "An Evening with Silk Sonic."
The show's Oscar-nominated host, Taraji P. Henson, said Combs' influence is "big for the culture."
During Combs' speech, he paid homage to the late Andre Harrell, who launched his career, as well as his mother for working several jobs during his childhood and the late Kim Porter, his longtime girlfriend and mother of his three children.
"I miss you so much Kim," said Combs. Earlier, in a star-studded tribute performance to Combs, he dedicated an emotional video montage to Porter. The nostalgic tribute included appearances from Mary J. Blige, Lil Kim, Busta Rhymes, Jodeci, Shyne and Faith Evans.
Combs founded Bad Boy Records and is a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Evans and 112. He created the fashion clothing line called Sean John, launched Revolt TV with a focus on music and has his own vodka. He also produced the reality show "Making the Band" for MTV.
In 2004, the rapper-producer played Walter Lee Younger in the Broadway revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," which aired as a television adaption four years later. He's also appeared in films including "Get Him to the Greek" and "Monster's Ball."
Past recipients of the award include Prince, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Samuel L. Jackson, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker and New Edition.
Babyface and Ye both called Combs a "legend."
"This man has been through and survived a lot of stuff and broke down a lot of doors so we can be standing -- I know for me, that I can be here today," said Ye, wearing a black face covering. "He broke down so many doors of classism, taste, culture, swag."
Combs' honour came on the same night when other big stars used the BET Awards to strongly criticize the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to strip away women's constitutional protection for abortion.
Henson took the stage as the show's host with an uplifting message about "Black excellence" before she launched into the court's overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling last week. The actor took the stage after Lizzo opened the show with a flute solo in a glittery-gold outfit performing her single "About Damn Time."
"It's about damn time we talk about the fact that guns have more rights than a woman. It's a sad day in America," said Henson. She thanked Lizzo, who along with ticket seller and concert promotion company Live Nation recently donated US$1 million in tour proceeds to Planned Parenthood.
Grammy-nominated singer Janelle Monae held up their middle finger toward the Supreme Court before introducing nominees for best female R&B/pop artist.
"These artists are making art on our own terms, owning our truths and expressing ourselves freely and unapologetically in a world that tries to control and police our bodies, my body and our decisions, my body," said the singer, who also paid homage to the LGBTQ+ community. "F--- you Supreme Court. I know we're celebrating us right now, as we should. We absolutely deserve to celebrate -- especially now we should celebrate our art by protecting our right and our truths."
Afterwards, Monae introduced Grammy winner Jazmine Sullivan as the category's winner -- who made a plea to men for their support of women.
"It's a hard time for us," Sullivan said. "I want to speak directly to the men: We need y'all. We need y'all to stand up, stand up for us, stand up with us. If you've ever benefitted from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, you need to be standing. This is not just a woman's issue. This is everybody's issue. We need your support more than ever."
Latto gave an emotional speech after she won best new artist.
"It's giving pro-choice," said the rapper, who later performed her smash hit "Big Energy" with Mariah Carey. "It's never giving a man policing my body."
Singer Tems dedicated her best international act award to the many women who "dare to dream."
"Where I'm from, things like this don't happen," said the Lagos, Nigeria-born singer who won best collaboration with Justin Bieber and Wizkid for their song "Essence." "This is a dream. If you're watching me, I want you to imagine yourself as me because you are meant to be here too."
Jack Harlow performed "Poison" alongside Lil Wayne before Brandy hit the stage with him for his hit "First Class." While Harlow and Brandy performed, the camera turned to her brother, Ray J, who was seen dancing in the audience.
Chance the Rapper and Joey Bada$$ performed "The Highs & the Lows." In her pink gown, Muni Long opened her set with a snippet of "Time Machine" before her jam "Hrs & Hrs."
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
Two young children and three adults were seriously injured in a major collision on Highway 417 between Palladium Drive and Carp Road in Ottawa's west end Friday afternoon.
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
After years of price increases and a decline in customers, fast food chains in the United States are competing with each other and offering value deals in hopes of bringing more foot traffic into their establishments.
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died. She was 86.
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
A hefty donation by a renowned local activist to the University of Winnipeg has created what is believed to be the most comprehensive two-spirit archives in all of Canada.
Leanne Van Bergen discovered a skulk of 10 baby foxes, and two mothers, had made themselves at home on her property in Beausejour.
An 81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman thought she’d never ride a horse again after a brain bleed led to severe physical complications.
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.
Prince Edward Island is celebrating its first-ever International Day of Potato on Thursday.
The president of Covered Bridge Chips in New Brunswick is hoping to have his factory rebuilt for late 2025 following a devastating fire last year.
Students and staff at Winnipeg’s Westwood Collegiate had a unique problem to solve this month; how do you lead ducks to water from the school’s courtyard when 12 of them can’t fly yet?
Debby Lorinczy remembers her father as an amazing person and as a man who also made an amazing discovery.
Abigail Strate is a member of the Canadian national ski jumping team and an Olympic bronze medallist. She's also a certified beekeeper.