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EVENTS: BET U.K. LAUNCH PARTY

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Alicia Keys & Debra Lee
( Photos: WIREIMAGE )

Alicia Keys and Debra L. Lee (BET Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) at the BET United Kingdom launch party at the Cafe de Paris on Saturday in London. BET UK officially launched on February 27th on Sky Digital Channel 209.

Guests at the party included: Musiq Soulchild, Estelle, Soulja Boy, Kelly Rowland’s rumored boyfriend Reggie Yates (the dude with the white scarf) and a whole bunch of UK singers and actors.

ALICIA KEYS @ BET UK EVENT ESTELLE & HER SISTER SOULJA BOY

MUSIQ SOULCHILD UK rapper KANO UK TV Personality Reggie Yates (Kelly Rowland’s rumored boyfriend)
Actress Zaraah Abrahams UK Singer Jamelia UK SINGER ALESHA DIXON
UK singer Lemar Actress Tiana Benjamin ALICIA KEYS @ BET UK EVENT (2)

SHOUT OUT TO ALL OUR U.K. READERS!

145 CommentsCOMMENT?

Posted by: ANGEL

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145 Comments


1.

NORF WEST LONDONS FINESTS

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

…LEMAR IS A CHOONG TING!!WID DEM PENG EYES!! omg why is bet coming here…like we need more shit on our telly screens..only difference is this is american shit!! wot is reggie wearing…he dont dress like dat innit he just suddenly looks gay

SOULJA BOY IS IN DA COUNTRY WOOHOOO IM GNA FIND HIM AND RAPE HIM

2.

NORF WEST LONDONS FINESTS

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

OMG IM FIRST WOOHOOO OMG ESTELLES GUEST HAS SOME BURNT TOAST BLICK !BLACKA THEN BLACK KNEES AND WOT ON GODS EARTH IS SHE WEARIN?? BLIMEY

3.

Sane'

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Jamelia luks cute ;)

4.

Adrian. The Esoteric

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

yeah! uk reader over here lol!

5.

LittleMissUK

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

The UK is runnin Big fingz …..
God knowz im happy BET has finally come to the UK
at last some decent sh*t to watch…ive been watching BET all week!!!
Big up to the UK doe ………….

6.

CT1

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

WOW! BET UK …….BET is doing some big things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7.

Nee-Nee

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I love Akeys outfit so cute.

8.

La'shonda

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

lol @ all the UK Loopers coming out from the dark and commenting in their slang! BLIMEY! Estelle’s friend know she wrong for them ashy knees. I’mma have to send her a bottle of Tone’n Fade skin bleach and a pumice stone. smh. and please tell me that is NOT cooch juice on her dress. urgh

I have to say, the rest of the women at the even look STUNNING! But not sure the UK arrival of BET is something to celebrate…..

9.

Dani

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

you never forget us, concreteloop.

:D

10.

Cosmo-clique

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

why oh why do they need to bring BET to the UK? Like Channel U wasn’t bad enough.
@ #2 that’s a bit harsh about Estelle’s guest don’t you think? I think she’s just got Hyper-pigmentation on her knees, something that some black people just have to live with.

11.

COR BLIMEY

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

The girl with \estelle is her sister, shes also a singer, she has done quite a few dance tracks. To Nurf West Londond finest, why are you upset that the Americans are coming over here, yet you wanna rape Souljah Boy so he can “supersoak dem HOES”. If thats what you would prefer the UK to promote, then you really do have a low opinion of UK music.

12.

Lydz

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Its the way I walked past Caffe de Paris yesterday with my sis and we was cussing at how dry that place is…and to my surprise I come on CL this morning and find out the BET UK launch party was at caffe de paris lmao. I was wondering why there was bare people outside there. What the hell is Reggie doing though? He needs to kill that scarf. Makes ‘im look col’up.

13.

NathanDevonte

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Yeh live Estelle’s sister alone bout blick kness yours rude!!! It’s time black people start being happy about there skin colour cos with had enough with Michael and Lil’ Kim…

BET UK, Finally.. But why has the Channel been playing the same 106 & Park since wednesday???? I don’t think the launch was BIG enough or well thought out!! Cos i know peoples who still don’t know it’s dere!! (209 people)

Also all the music channel’s are around 434 and dat so why’s BET 209?????

More British singers shoulda been at the party. its the time UK get to shine, im tired of hearing people say the UK aint got talent!!!!!!
Lemar, Mutya, Kano, Estelle & Amy Winehouse…. I want that list to be endless

14.

Lydz

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I bare lied there wasnt bare people…just more than usual coz that place is always deadout…

15.

ANGEL

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

@ 11. That’s wassup. I’ll update the picture caption.

@ 13. Are you serious? Don’t tell me that’s the only show they are playing on the channel right now! I thought it was supposed to have local programming too?

16.

wendybaby

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I love kelly but her so called b/f looks like a total joke…lol….whats up with the scart and give kelly back her jeans

17.

Mwinyimbegu

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I guess black/African British people should now expect the barrage of images and narratives that depict African women as “strippers, whores, and objects for sexual exploitation” and African men as ‘’pimps, players, gangsters, thugs and drug dealers etc…”

African/Black people are further made the source of ridicule with the supporting rap chiming mocking insults such as ‘wear deodorant n***a, wear deodorant n***a.’, ‘brush your teeth n***a, brush your teeth n***a.

18.

missfatbooty

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET in the UK… What a f….n waste, they aint gon show us da current stuff their gon give us a load of repeats & adverts…. UK r so useless @ promoting stuff that aint theirs…. Whatever!!!

19.

LOLLYPOP

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET goes international! I hope they step the game up and start representing us in a more favorable light on the global front. I’d hate to think that all we have to offer the UK is more booty videos!

20.

LOLLYPOP

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Old girl’s knees aint that bad yo. I bet Vivica would kill for those knees!!!

21.

LOLLYPOP

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Last comment - Please don’t tell me Kelly went all the way to London to hook up with that HAM who looks like a gender bending idiot! Why the scarf WITH the ladies’ necklace???? WHY?

22.

Polly Hamilton

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Wow, you commeNters are HARSH!
There is nothing wrong with her knees.

A bit of INFO for US loopers:
North West London is actually the biggest DUMP in London Town, so if you think you the finest from there you are hurting in comparison!!

LOL

Nonetheless, every1 looks nice, BIG UP BET for hitting the UK , I know they are looking to produce some UK shows in the near future!

23.

Greatestloveofall

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Oh God, I pity the folks in the UK gettin our trash.

I just hope BET UK does more justice for black British people and not turn into the nasty ass coonfest that BET over here does.

Hopefully it’ll show some positive side of black ppl and not turn them into stereotpyes. Are they showing the same stuff like 106 and Park over there, or are they producin their homegrown own shows?

Also would b nice if they showcased black women, cause i got relatives in London, and apparently a lot of the black males over there lagely prefer white women. Its supposed to be real rare to see a black man with a black woman over in England, from what i hear but i might be wrong.

I seen dat Jamelia chick on past posts on CL and DAMN yall must hav sum real fine sisters over there :)

24.

OG_Sweetz

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

LMAO @ the “dude” wearing that scarf! I’m all for fashion, but he looks like a damn fool.

25.

REBEL

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Dude looks dumb as hell with that neck brace (scarf) on his damn neck!
Lmao @ the UK posters slang! I couldnt read a lick of it! But yall seem cool!

26.

Blaque_beauty

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

ok I had to post after seeing some of the stuff us ‘UK’ ppl are saying some of y’all kinda sound desperate like BET UK is the water needed to quence your dying thirst damn it’s a channel…the UK had BET before when Videotron used to run cable tv….and @22 all I have to say is do you remember the ‘North Weezy Song’ overhyped opinion of themselves LOL

‘Where do we come from North Weezy, How do we make money real easy’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUfZjZn7prs

27.

SS Rempa

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

i live in the UK and i didn’t even know! BET were showing a few of there shows on MTV BASE, but i didn’t think they would go this far. i personally hope they do shows aimed at the there black British audience and not re-runs of the shows they do in the US.

28.

Miss Independedn

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Nothing like exploiting Blacks worldwide!

29.

clarkthink

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Soulja Boy in England……they must think we are crazy as hell over here.

Kelly Rowlands boyfriend.??? more like her girlfriend……….”how you doing…”

It’s some pretty artist in England…I don’t know if they have talent, but they are pretty.

Alicia Keys, dresses like that cool guy who lives down the street from me.

30.

Claris (Ceejay)

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

who tha hell compares BET to channel U pliz BET iz way betta

I’m so happy we got it now!!!:D:D:D

31.

WestLondon'sfynest

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I am from the UK and we really don’t need BET U.K. I’m telling you people, no one cares about BET in the U.k. Keep your crap in America please.

32.

*souflondon*

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

@23.Greatestloveofall
just to let u kno i live london yea..and im black british ….lol
ur fact bout being ‘rare to see a black man with a black woman over in England’ is actually not true..lol….
anyway… lol…BET is alrite nuffin to spescal maybe because they keeep REPEATING the same thing gosh..they reli need to sort dat out man ..itz gettin reli annoyin….

33.

londontown!

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

pls channel u cannot be compared to BET cause it more of a known channel …u get me?? lol ….but im all for channel u man …..love my grime and alll

34.

Greatestloveofall

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Debra Lee looks like a fool. I hate this expoitative bitch how can she live with herself and look at herself in the mirror everyday, selling out the black community?

35.

Greatestloveofall

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

And that guy sure is lucky if he got beautiful Ms Kelly Rowland by his side. He still looks a hot ass mess with that neckbrace lookin thing.

36.

JB

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

PPl Chattin Shit BET is the Sh!t…Bare ppl Wachn it…all channel U does is play the same video more then ten times day then bare dumb competition jus tryna steal ppl money.. occasionally the have good programmes but overall it aint all that..Dun Kno North West is Big Out ere thro the slum up….cause really nd trully NAME ANOTHA CHANNEL THAT CELEBRATE BLACK PEOPLE LIKE BET…urban tv is orite still but name anova
dont even try say OBE cause will u get shamed

37.

FASHIONESQUE

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

kelly looks so cute. i hope soulja boy isnt a one hit wonder hes a funny guy

38.

jones

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

@2&8 why make fun of the sista for being dark,very un-cool and low-rent!

39.

lali

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

thank concreteloop !!! i’m french

40.

The Wire

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

So B.E.T. wants to spread their trashy, nasty, no talent, black-folk degrading, “make me ashamed to be black american”, network across the Atlantic. Fuck that. And Fuck Debra. L. Lee. Yall know SHE was the reason Bob and Sheila Johnson divorced!!!! skank ho!!! I hate your network. That’s why my alma mater–an HBCU–had a boycott B.E. T. club!!

p.s. our boycott B.E.T. was unsuccessful and we were unable to get it removed from the on-campus cable lineup…lol. . Not enough people were down with the cause.

41.

Giggles

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Channel U is a disgrace, it just reflects the dire state that Black British people are in; it glorifies illiteracy, making money the easy way and other ghetto stereotypes- I can’t stand it and if BET is the same then that is ridiculous. Real music has gone out the window anyway.

The woman above looks just like an older Alicia keys, if I hadn’t seen Alicia with her mum before then I would have thought that was her mother lol.

Reggie Yates seems like a nice dude but his outfit is horrendous and hes actually okay looking in real life. I doubt Kelly is with him, its probably a rumour that started off by the Sun Newspaper lol

42.

Aikes

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

that sucks for the UK

43.

The Wire

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

pps. and Debra Lee is the perfect example of how you can open your legs to climb up the corporate ladder.. lol!!!!!

44.

Tizzle..North West London

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I been watchin BET since it came 2 da UK same crusty adverts 24/7 but stil its livo!!!
hell date is 222 much joke stayed up till 5am couldnt help ma self.

all the hype about 106 an park…..rubbish!!! same 1 since last week

45.

Horse.head.Nebula

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Boycott BET

46.

oi oi UK SLANG

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

am british and embarassed about that corny ass slang you talk
leave that to Jamaican Niggaz ok

thats some dumb shit bitches

47.

oi oi UK SLANG

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET TO UK IS A WASTE
WE ARE DONE WITH MTV TAKING OFF MUSIC TO PUT
RICH WHITE KIDS shows

BET IS doing the same thing just hows and shit

48.

NOEMII

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

ALL I CAN SAY IS ABOUT TIME! =) WAS TUNED INTO BET ALL DAY !..
LARGEE URP BET…AND CONCRETELOOP!..

LOVE ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH LONDON XX

49.

PROVOST...

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

ON BEHALF OF EVERY AMAERICAN WITH A LICK OF SENSE, I APOLOGIZE TO THE UK FOR WHAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I KNEW IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE WITNESSED THE GOLBALIZATION OF NIGGERIFICATION.

God help us all.

P.S.: How come every time I see Debra Lee’s ol non-readin, non-SPEAKIN ass I feel like she’s just waiting on all of Black America to sing so she can steal our voices and souls and trap them in a damn amulet around her neck…and then all the clams and sea urchins start to sing and dance around her… She is destructive, her very presence symbolizes ethnic genocide and war on Black intelligence, and I DO NOT fuck with her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

50.

ms blu

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

lol im from london too and having BET here aint that at all, BET is degrading (to blacks) and unoriginal and the fact that it has washed up upon our shores is a real shame. peace

51.

UM...I GUESS

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

alicia looks ah-mazing!!! love the jacket

52.

tasha

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET has arrived… yezzur… finally… after how long??

106 and park so far seems over rated, and the way the americans go on about it.

Lovin college hill though

have you seen the video of soulja boy in london… pounds on deck lol. check it out on you tube!

53.

UM...I GUESS

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

ps- #38 i agree WHOLE HEARTEDLY!

54.

Isitreally?

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET UK has only been on about a week and they’re showing more repeats than MTV. If the sh*t they are showing is what Americans watch I feel sorry for you. They’re little discussion shows are bullsh*t and so are them reality shows with Lil Kim and DMX. Do they think people are that shallow? I never thought it could get worse than MTV.

BET take you channel back, because it does nothing for most.

55.

Mellow_D

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Another one from the UK (woot woot!)

56.

Dont Argue With Me It's Just An Opinion

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

If Kelly is dating that dude, her interests have really changed since the last guy and I’ll just leave it at that.

57.

KASALI

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Please we have enough problems in the UK without adding BET trash to it…BET is the polished version of trashy chanel U where black girls and boys emulate all the negative aspects and stereotypes about black folks in the US. My brothers and sisters in the States please come and take your stuff back.

What is interesting is that we use to have BET when I was younger it use to be on cable…Now we can expect more foolishness from the young boys “on road” because that’s who will watch it (for examples of these people look at the earlier incoherent comments

White folks are just gonna watch this and see that it reinforces all that they think black people are about. I watched it yesterday and today, it is on a very obscure channel, I hope nobody finds it…lol.!

58.

oi oi UK SLANG

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

IMAGINE IF THERE WAS WET???

what would it be ? racist? YES I GUESS

take your shit back to AMERICA and yes am BLACK

59.

Mellow_D

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Channel U doesn’t reflect the true state of British music, i find it insulting to know such a low budget channel represents us. Just like some of the commenters have said, they continue to show the stereotypes.. illiterate, druggies.. pants-half-down-there-ass type ‘brothers’… and yeah, they definitely show a sector of British black people but they are moving up in the world, they are probably more intelligent.. individuals than they are.. ghetto idiots.

60.

Gorgeous g

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

#8-OUCH!

61.

itzzzkimmm

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Alright BET UK! I’m happy that black people in the UK is going to have a channel just for them. Congrats BET!

62.

working.guh.

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

they spreading this garbage around the world… they need to work get some new shows and shit..but the shows in the uk will probably be 8xs better than the crap they serve us here.. i hope they dont give you guys 5 whackass blackbuster movies and show them 80 times a week like theyre really good…
isnt alesha dixon pharrells gf..
that zaraah girl reminds me of that monique girl from disney and dancing with the stars
i heard from many sources that jamelia is like the uks beyonce…is she really?
above me, you couldve put that in two paragraphs and called it a day but i agree with you..

63.

working.guh.

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

they spreading this garbage around the world… they need to work get some new shows and shit..but the shows in the uk will probably be 8xs better than the crap they serve us here.. i hope they dont give you guys 5 whackass blackbuster movies and show them 80 times a week like theyre really good…
isnt alesha dixon pharrells gf..
that zaraah girl reminds me of that monique girl from disney and dancing with the stars
i heard from many sources that jamelia is like the uks beyonce…is she really?
above me, you couldve put that in two paragraphs and called it a day but i agree with you..

64.

Chelly

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET= Black Exploitation Television. Now i’s going worldwide? Great as if it ain’t bad enough what people think of our African American culture…..

65.

taji

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Alicia Keys looks beautiful. BET is trash, it promotes cooning and buffonery and not to mention repeats of syndicated shows that also has non-sense in it.

66.

kevykevykelvin

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Alicia Keys please take off those sunglasses they look awful on her

67.

Monie Luv

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

No, itzzzkimmm, BET is just a channel for blacks to be stereotyped.

We have enough problems with people in America not taking us seriously, so now Debra wants to spread this shit like the Bubonic plague, overseas. Good Lord!!!!

And for those of you who mentioned that all you are getting are re-runs, well welcome to BET. That’s what we get, too, here.

But, they are taking you guys way back. Lil Kim? DMX? Shooo, those shows aired over two years ago.

Now, they have Keyshia Cole’s reality TV show, as well as that ignorant ass show, College Hill.

Nevertheless, black Europeans, hopefully, you guys are more successful in making sure that the non-blacks in your areas don’t buy into BET’s crap interpretations of our great race.

68.

Monie Luv

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

OMG!!!!!!!!!

I just looked at the pics of the event.

***SMH***

Reggie Yates.

What the fuck, Man??!!!!!!!!!!!!??

He looks like he rode over to the event on the short bus.

Good Lord, People!!!!!!!

P.P.S., if that is Kelly’s man, it explains her lack of a career a lot.

I mean, she’s just making retarded decisions left and right.

69.

REYAA

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

mtv uk ere serves white ppl……!!ITS HIGH TIME BET MADE THIER WAY TO UK!!! BRAAAAAAAAAP BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!
NOW I GT 2 WATCH BLACK TV IN FULL EFFECT!!

70.

Dame

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

A. Keys look the best. UK enjoy B.E.T because I am sick of it. I watch certain things that attention. All they show are old reruns.

71.

shan_shan

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I dont even watch BET no more..Im just waiting for the new COllege Hill season lool…Kelly Rowland got her self a knock off Jay Z ahhahahah he looks SOOO funnny (PLEASE LET THE RUMOURS NOT BE TRUE!)

72.

shan_shan

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

@70…BLACK TELEVISION in FULL EFFECT?
..My Ass! hah BET does nothing for the black community as far as sterotypes go

73.

*

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I’m surprised Rihanna is not there. She will show up to the opening of an envelope, as Carrie would have said.
Jamelia is repping us dark skinned sisters well.

74.

Star

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

u dont know how long we have een waiting for this yearssssssssssssssss

75.

brittanybeauty

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Reggie looks gay with that scarf tied around his neck like that just be cool with it and let it hang

76.

GadgetGirl

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Estelle guest is her sister also a recording artist name Haidari has a single out called The Love Is Gone a Hed Kandi / Ministry of Sound track

77.

olu

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

YEYYYYY!!!!!! .(about the shout out)……lol

78.

ashleigh

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

what did # 46 mean by leave that slang to jamaican niggaz….im kind of offended by that as a jamaican canadian. someone clarify

79.

Ruth

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Bet UK not been here long and all dey do is show more repeats then Mtv and some of the shows with lil kim and Dmx are old BET need to give us better shows nd not repeats

80.

The Mars Volta

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Soulja Boy??? Who The Hell Is That Again??? LoLz

81.

Flochine

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

I’m really unhappy about BET, it’s not interesting…… nothing blah rubbish…. they’ve been showing hell date on mtv already (nothing to get excited about) 106 & Park (never in to watch it) and some other shows which bore the hell out of me…. and I was really excited that it was gonna be coming down here……. well reggie, I don’t understand why he’s wearing that (he looks gay) but I think it’s wierd him and Kelly (it’s a wierd couple)…. tiana benjamin (too much makeup but she looks alright…i hate her character on eastenders though lol), Lemar (urgh he just bores me….. shame coz he’s igbo like me), Kano (’channel u’ trash), and everybody else looks good :)

82.

bigbumpaa *Uk Rep*

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

WOOOHOOO!!!!!! dats what im talkin bout!!!!

83.

Ken

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

What’s up with the tight pants the dudes wear in the UK? That guy with the scarf needs to loosen it up and it it breath!

84.

ThatChick

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

everybody worried about Reggie and his tight pants and scarf nobody saying anything about Soulja Boy’s gear

85.

V-LICIOUS

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

@ 58 - SHUT UP about ‘WET’… Havent you heard of Asian Network or similar channels. Of course you can have channel specially aimed at a specific race - there’s nothing worng with that. You’re just trying to create drama….

86.

Christina

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

“Channel U is a disgrace, it just reflects the dire state that Black British people are in; it glorifies illiteracy, making money the easy way and other ghetto stereotypes.” -Number 41 - Giggles.

PREACH!

“Please we have enough problems in the UK without adding BET trash to it…BET is the polished version of trashy chanel U where black girls and boys emulate all the negative aspects and stereotypes about black folks in the US.” Number 57 - KASAL.

…AND AGAIN!

anyways… obviously i see BET when im in America. Now that its over here we will have 2 TV parasites dedicated to making black people look stupid. As for those that are EXCITED and LOOKING FORWARD to BET on our TV screens…well YOU are our problem. Dragging Afro-Caribs and Africans down glorify that nonsense. Like i don’t have to put up with hearing excessive amounts of “blud” “ya gets me don” and so forth. Now thanks to BET we get in delivered to use in a whole “new” light SMH. Aaron McGrudger (sp) needs to do a Boondocks episode on this! Now that i will watch lol!

87.

Noelle Alexandrea Teague

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

>> everyone ooks nice but y r some names bolded or HIGHLIGHTED while others arent????????????????? hmm………………… :)

88.

ladyloza

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

black slavery alive and kicking, thanks for the reminder BET UK!

89.

EAST LONDON's finest

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Well lawd knows i was excited when i found out BET hit the UK! YAAAAAAH Now i dont have to wait for a holiday to the US to watch the damn channel…only to have to leave the next week. Just hope it lives up to my expectations AND DOES NOT ONLY PLAY REPEATS! VERY VERY excited and so should the rest of black UK be too……i mean MTV base???? really..you were happy with JUST that????

90.

Rasputia

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

About time this SHITHOLE of a country did something good with their TV… BTW! thnx for the shoutout Angel!.. Love concrete loooooooppp! keep it coming!

91.

DejaStar7

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET if ur looking for any CORRESPONDENTS GET AT ME!

92.

Automatic

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET in the UK?
Since when has BET been a glorious television channel. Ne-fucking-ver.

93.

Greatestloveofall

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

WOW yall in the UK know how bad BET is and its only been launched over there :lol:

I certainly hope u guys get a better deal than we do, in the lonng-term!

94.

candi

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

lol omdayz trust an believe the U.K. needs BET. we a litle behind bt thats cuz the channel has jus come on.
if u americans think BET is trash i tink u need 2 watch a lickle of channel U.
AND MTV BASE.

95.

Chestnut

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

This is my first time commenting on CL……… been a Black british female fan for some time now.

Firstly, I’d like to say that I went to see A.Keys at The 02 Arena, here in London on Friday night - her show ROCKED!!!!!

As for the Black British music artistis seen at the BET UK launch party - I would like to say that there is decent black UK talent but the problem is they get signed to record co. that don’t have their real interest at heart and so they end up singing ‘wish - washy’ music that doesn’t appeal to the UK black audience and they are not fully accepted by British white audiences. Eventually, the record labels drop them and they simply disappear! Hence Estelle’s smart & positive move with getting herself signed with John Legend. Hopefully She’ll get to write & record music that is true to her self and style.

As for BET UK - I switched over to Channel 209 earlier and the 2007 BET Awards show was being shown. So yeah, its true they are going to infiltrate us with the same ol’ music videos & award shows in addition to dated shows like ‘Lil’ Kim goes to Jail! …………lol……….. Although they have advertised the Keyisha Cole show. Wow!

As it stands television shows / channels aimed for the Black British audience in mind is a joke! Cable channels like MTV Base show the same US music videos, Trouble TV shows dated African American sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel Air, All of Us, and the old series of Girlfriends! Its a sham! I don’t even bother to watch those channels anymore.
As for the UK music Channel U - I dont even want to comment on that mess! I was born in South London (to Jamaican parents) and I don’t understand a word!….. Lol………

Personally, I can’t see British TV improving in terms of content & display because the people in senior positions in the entertainment industry are all vwhite males or females and don’t feel obligated to ensure that British TV aims, caters & reflects the diverse interest and cultural makeup of the UK.

@no.23 - I would have to disagree or say that you have been misinformed slightly by your family over here about it being rare to see black men with black women. The no of mixed raced couples/relationships does not outweight the no of black couples. Trust me its not as high as it is percieved to be. However, the British media would have you believe this as they constantly promote ‘black n white’ couples in adverts and mindless soap dramas like Eastenders - which I refuse to watch.

It’s RARE to see a high paid premiere league Black footballer with a black woman. However, like I always maintained British Black footballers don’t know themselves, their history as they are uneducated , school drop outs, who are paid way too much money!

So, the reality is, black people all across the diaspora will only get shows that truly reflect our culture and interests when likeminded (it all about the MINDSET) black people create & produce our own stations and networks.

96.

CEE

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

BET is trash Idk why they are spreading that nonsense even further such a ghetto ass channel

97.

Nanz

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Well mate here i go….

I am actually quite happy that B.E.T is over in the U.K i no that they are repeating the programmes but you have to bare with them. For the fact that the channel just started so they have to get there programmes in order before they can perfect everything.

Im from London and, we cannot lie there is no channel over here that shows just black programmes. NONE WHATSOEVER!! . So we should give it a chance before we begin to start down grading it.We always complain that there is never enough black shows over here. And now we get B.E.T and we are complaing before the channel has even been launched fully.

Were over here complaning about the channel when we have stupid programmes like Little Miss Joyclyn. I cannot even think of any other black programmes that is whats sad about it. Look at how dumb and stupid Miss Joyclyn acts walking around saying things like “Ive got worms.” And disrespecting african woman bus drivers. And then you want to complain about B.E.T letting black people down. Then what the hell is she doing on BBC1. Infront of millions of white and black people nationwide, making us look like uneducated idiots. Thats why white people feel that they cannot respect us because people like are being foolish.

I will conclude my little lecture by saying. Dont knock something fully untill you have tried it. Yes i understand fully that some of the programmes are being repeated (106 & park the same one with Jay z) But the channel has only been running since thursday. So you need to give it atleast a month for it to become fully active.

There are much nicer and better pictures of Reggie Yates (Kelly Rowlands so called boyfriend) This one is just a bad picture and a bad outfit to wear but dont diss him before you get to know him. He is actually a funny and nice guy.

Nuff respect goes out to everyone in London and the whole U.K. And never forgetting are people over in America!!

Nanz!

98.

frenchythemask

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

Now BET needs to go to France and do the same thing we love BET .

99.

candi

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

its only showin repeats cuz it just started. thats just how sky is with all their new programs………..and old ones.
u ameicans are OVER REACTING about BET being degrading. i watched it all the time wen i was in america and jamaica.nothing is worse than the u.k channel
channel u. atleast bet has gospel,movies and things bout black history. channel u has none of that except a bunch of idiots who think they can sing or rap and have half naked ugly trashy ass girls in their cheep ass video.and then you would think they would have black females in their video………………….no they dont. its just a bunch of english paris hiltons,britney spears and pamerla andersons.
i could make a video now in ma room and send it into CHANNEL U and they will play it. no lie

100.

jj

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

i do love the addition to UK BLack TV cause MTV BASE ain’t Black, Channel U is wack, and BET well the repeats are really old and i’ve only been watcing the channel for 1 day. Its a flipping cope out, they need to come with something new b4 i get board of seeing the same long ass adds. I bet they don’t get that in the US.

101.

Greatestloveofall

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

OK, going from the comments by the UK contributors on this news, I’ll say this–my pessimism is unfortunately stemming from the bad experiences watchin BET in the past (which i dont even look at anymore). But i’ve read some reports here n there and apparently they’re keen to do some UK based shows. I dont know much about black British culture, but I assume they have a very distinct identity from black Americans and to me, that should be celebrated and showcased positively to reflect them. I mean surely even the better and ‘not-so-bad’ shows on BET in the States cant be 100% relevant to UK black people.

Basically u need a product which has a bit of both– some US shows but also UK produced stuff. Like for example, if I was to ask the British readers on this blog what are the biggest current social issues affecting the black community over there, what would you say they were? Stuff like debates and documentaries would be pretty entertaining and educating if they’re done right.

And I dont know a lot of the black music talent over there (my cousin in London introduced me to that Terri Walker chick and shes FIERCE!!!!!), but i hope yall get to see them showcased more than just mainstream American singers and rappers cause they well-known anyway.

102.

English In "America"

Sunday, March 2, 2008 /

WOWOW!!!
this is quite funny, i’ve been able to sample from both sides of the pond and, quite personally i think BET comming to England is a crock of crap, however, to each his own.
When i first moved to Canada, i watched BET and its not every entertaining at all. same ol’ videos with hoes and guns and making money and sippin cristal etc etc etc, and you dont even know the JOKE of the “BlackBuster Movie”…YES Boyz In The Hood is a good movie, but i dont want to watch Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding Jr. “tryin’ to make it out of the Ghetto” 16 times a week. There are other amazing movies that star African Americans. I hope they dont inflict that on you haha
Also, i can’t believe that they are feeding you the Lil’ Kim and DMX documentaries! those are sooooooooo old…its not even funny.
One good show tho, and i hope they play it over there in the U.K is American Gangster, but thats just my opinion.
But overall, BET shows shitty T.V. nothing enlightening (OK , so they have Gospel on between 6am and 4pm on a sunday…but thats just frountin’. I dont agree with “Sunday Christianity”)

AND I CANT BELIEVE CHANNEL U STILL SUCKS BALLZ! thats too funny, i remember watching those music videos that people made with a little sony video camara at Wembly Market, tryna frount like they’re in Gucci or something

Peace and Love to my U.K people!! i miss you all and ill be back to visit soon!!

NORTH WEST LONDON STAND UUUUUUUUUUUUP *but not for too long, its not that serious*

103.

hood_shit

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Who knew Kelly Rowland was a lesbian? Because homeboy is a QUEEN!

Musiq needs a stylist!

All the UK artists look weird….

104.

BIGVON

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

I FUCKIN LUV BLACK PEOPLE…..I LUV BLACK PEOPLE SO MUCH …I HATE BLACK PEOPLE….I SEE BLACK SELF HATE IS WORLDWIDE……NIGZ TALKIN DOWN ON BET LIKE IT AINT SHIT….FUC EVERY LAST ONE OF U THIRSTY…BOUGY ASS NEGROES…..THATS RIGHT NEGROES CUZ YALL ACTIN LIKE IT…….DIVIDE AND CONQUER SHIT STILL WORK ON DUMMIEZ……IF WE AINT GOT BET…REAL TALK…WE GOT NUTHIN….OPINIONS LIKE THESE R THE REASON WHY WE HAD 2 ENDURE 500 DUMB ASS SUPPOSED 2 B POSITIVE BLACK MOVIES ALL DEVOID OF PLOT…CUZ BLK PPL CANT LET ENTERTAINMENT JUS B WHAT IT IZ…ENTERTAINMENT….ITS ALRIGHT 2 HAVE SATIRE AND MAKE FUN OF OURSELVES…WHY WE GOTTA ALL B SHOWN AS PROGRESSIVE IN EVERYTHING…THATS NOT REAL…ITS NOT COMEDY AND PERSONALLY MOST OF THAT SHIT IS BORING……DUMB MUHFUCKA ON HERE SAID A STUPID ASS COMMENT ABOUT DEBRA LEE…..FUC U FOR HER…..SHE A SMART..RICH BLACK WOMAN DOIN SUMTHIN OBVIOUSLY…..PPL LIKE YALL DUMB ASS IS THE REASON FOR BLACK FLIGHT OUT THE HOOD…..READY 2 LIVE WITH THE CRACKERS…THEN THE CRACKERS MOVE….THEN U MOVE…IDIOT…NO BLK BIZNESS IN THE HOOD….DUMMIEZ….NOW WE HATE B.E.T……WHAT DO WE LOVE…..DEFINITELY NOT NUTHIN BLACK……AND FUC ALL THE U.K FOLKZ WHO WISH NOT 2 HAV BET…PLEAZE CONTINUE 2 FUC YA WHITE WOMEN AND B MERRY…I DO FUCS WIT ESTELLE AND AMY THOUGH….REAL TALK….I THINK ALOT OF YALL LOOPERS R BRAINWASHED IDIOTS……THIS TYPE OF SHIT MAKE ME MAD….REAL TALK

105.

FLYNESS PERSONIFYED

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

i love zaraah, but she always looks weird on red carpets… the hair isn’t gr8, her make up is bad and she looks like she’s wearing a pillow case!

107.

Rachel

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

ooo i never commented on here before i thought u had 2 be a member to comment but now i see all my UK people are coming out commentin lol i thought imght as well.. BIGGIN UP THE UK. - TOTTENHAM! in the building hehe
anyway i didnt even no we had BET till my cousin told me the other day lol thats all shes been watching bwoy, they are showing REPEATS AND REPEATS jeeze i thought channel U was bad with the repeats lol
REGGIE YATES IS SOO BUFF.. he dnt look all that good in the pic, but reggie is HOT stuff mate!
get to know!!

108.

Rachel

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

why do u peple underate england sooo much.
jeeeeze u lots that r from Uk under ate soo much. even tho i dnt like channel U, there doing their thing u chat bout it but yet ur still watchin it.. everyones tryna get noticed out ere and if thats the way they gonna go bout it den let dem do there ting innit. and MTV base is not SHIT cah mtv base is the shizz nit lol im always tuned into MTV base and i no each and every one of u are to, cah u ppl r watchin it
UK’s BADD man u dnt even no… i LOVE LONDON, and is reppin 2 the fullest!

109.

NORF WEST LONDON GYAL

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

BRAP BRAP BRAP
fanxu concreteloop & BET 4 not 4geting us london/uk ppl
wen i went 2 texas bare ppl weresuprised dat dere were black ppl in england kmt
but sumtimes i do wonder if deres black ppl in scotland or ireland?

110.

Missin' the USA

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

yea its over here but it aint nothing to hype about. i agree with #49 plus all the shows are ooooooooold. nothing is current. im watching the same shows, 106th and the videos that they played last year some earlier than that. Im sorry UK but BET is a mess period.

111.

Nikeah

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Oh Please……BET U.K will turn out to be another shit t.v channel that only promotes shit talent, just like Channel U.
If americans hate BET, why the hell are all british people jumping on it like it’s a breath of fresh air.
I hope you don’t think that Souljah Boy Foolishness is talent, he’s a frikkin EEEEDIAT Boy, bout Superman that ho……boy please, have ya balls even dropped yet????

112.

Double Ds

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

I’m sorry, but Alicia Keys is 1 UGlY man butch looking carpet munching broad!

113.

NW5 NORFWEST LONDON JAYDE

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

WE AV ALMOST EVERY BET SHOW ON MTV BASE EXCEPT NOT AS MANY RE-RUNS

MTV UK IS 4 DA RICH WHITE KIDS

NEVA KNEW DERE WAS SO MUCH NORF WEST LONDONERS or UK PPL DA JAMMED ON CONCRETELOOP

I HAVE VIRGIN MEDIA NOT SKY SO I DNT RELLI WATCH IT…

I AV A USA CUSIN ND FIND IT SO FUNNI WEN I SAY LONDON SLANG 2 HER ND SHE PROPER PRENTENDS DEY UNDERSTAND IT WEN SHE REALLI DNT e.g. Skeen, come yard ma wifey jammin here wit dese begfriends is waste alie?

LOL USA PPL MAKE ME CRACK UP…U GUYS R DA SHIT_xxx

114.

Vinandi

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

LOL- to all them haters!! Big up to London town!

Chick from Corrie - needs to stop with the white heels

Jamelia- love her!

Reggie Yates- possibly gay but funny!

Estelle- looking good her sis should have worn tights!

Lemar- love him!

115.

NW5 NORFWEST LONDON JAYDE

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

#104 if eva come 2 london watch urself coz calling someone a nigro in camden will get u rushed (beaten up by a gang) faller than you can say help

116.

toya1

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

UK, PLEASE DO NOT WATCH BET! IT’S GARBAGE!!!

117.

sugar150

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Thank you to the posters that see BET UK as being a negative thing! Do we really need BET (KKK) spreading lies, and stereotypes of black women and men. Enough with this garbage! The boondocks episode did a great job of showing BET’s true colours. I don’t support Bob Johnson and I don’t support BET!

118.

Dyvinesun

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Im a little late on this post but I hate BET. We need another alternative “black”station

119.

RileyFinesse

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

LeMar can sing his but off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to get his cd imported because they dont sell it in the States

120.

Erica

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Ms AK’s outfit is awesome. Angel can you tell us where she got that jacket and those jeans or at least a cheaper version.

121.

DAN1

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

thank god we have BET Back after all those years! its about time!

122.

DAN1

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

why does Reggie look soooooooooooooooooooo uncomfortable this look is clearly not him!

123.

Tal

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

I didn’t know about this till today either, thanks CL but true as #11 they still playing same stuff over and over and over and over and over again and again and again but will wait a couple more days before i judge. At least now we can hopefully catch the black awards shows when they happen coz no one ever shows them. Big up UK….

124.

Tal

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

P/S Alesha is THE BEST, Love the blue dress and shoes on the Tiana, she is really pretty and this pic doesn’t do her any justice at all. Rumoured Kelly’s b-friend is nothing special here in the U.K

125.

SweetThang729

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Bout time and what’s up with Estelle’s sis’ face??? FIX IT BOO!!!

126.

Have Not Thought of a New User Name

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

I am still unhappy with this development (BET programming is a hot mess) I would much rather TVOne go to the IK.

127.

Have Not Thought of a New User Name

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

correction: UK

128.

YEAH I SAID IT

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Oh great.. so now we’re degrading black folks on an internationally?

129.

YEAH I SAID IT

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

correction: on an international level?

130.

BIGVON

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

i sais negroe..CUZ THA WORD FIT…..AND IM FROM THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO…I COULD GIV 2 FUCKS ABOUT CAMDEN…AND IF U WAS READIN…U SHOULDA COMMENTED ON THE BACKWARDSNESS OF THESE VERY SAME BLK PPL WHO REVEL IN GOSSIP…WHO WOULDNT WATCH SUMTHIN POSTIVE IF IT SMACKED THEM IN THE FACE…B HYPOCRITES AND TEAR DOWN SUMTHIN THAT INSTEAD F FIX…THEY WOULD RATHER SEE GONE….DUMMIEZ…..ACTIN LIKE SPIRITUALLY BROKE NEGROEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ……NO ADVANCEMENT…IM YOUNG AT THE SAME TIME..SORRY IF I WANT 2 SEE MY PPL ON TV…..NOT JUST DOCTORS..AND LAWYERS…I WANNA SEE COMEDIANS AND SHIT TOO…WHATS WRONG WIT COLLEGE HILL..PPL WATCH THE REAL WORLD…WITH NO BLK FACES AT ALL…LIKE I SAID BEFORE…..FUC OUTTA HERE WIT THAT SELF RACISM

131.

Shyfour11

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

*****London residents….I would love to visit London. Can you tell me where is the best place to visit? I love Floetry to death. I’m a black female looking for good London music, shopping, and etx experience. This would be my fist time in London. Just trying to reach out. Catch me at yahoo.

132.

the girl that be

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

@ 26 - yes, thank u!!! BET was on videotron waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day, when cable first started comin on the up and up…i remember coming in2 primary school n being like who watched so-so and jus getting a blank stare lol NEWAYS,

Of what i’ve seen so far of BET UK is highly unimpressive - and the excuse that they’re showing repeats cos its new is BULL - if they had put thought, effort and adequate preparation into this, then the programming would reflect that..instead the channel is in some random place, sandwiched btw God knows what - wrong move!

133.

k9nz

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

ight reggie dnt look gay he jst looks a hot mess - gay brehs would knw wt to drop nd wt to take out - he just need some serious advice.

134.

Ladyee-Aj

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

GD
U AMERICANS BE SAYiIN HOW U FEEL SORRI 4 US
DAT WERE GETTIN BET UK
BUT IM OVER THE MOON
DO U KNO HOW DRY OUR SHOWS R
THERE AINT 1 BLACK CHANNEL…. NOT 1
DERS NOT EVEN 1 BLACK ENGLISH SHOW
EXCEPT FOR LITTLE MISS JOCELYN WHICH
IS NEVER ON.
AND AS FOR CHANNEL U
WAT A HOLE LOTTA SHiiT
DEY SHULD SEND DAT 2 AMERICA
SEEE HOW RUBBISH IT IS
BUNCH OF EXTREMLEY LOW BUDGET VIDEOS
FROM STUPID ASS NIGGAS
DAT FINK THEYRE SHOWWAAAAH
OH AND DONT EVEN HAVE ANY BLACK GIRLS
IN THERE VIDEOS……
KMT
I LIKE ALL OF BET’S SHOWS SO IM PROBBLY
GNA BEE WTCHING DAT 4 TiiME

SOUF LONDONS FiINEST

135.

dyna

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

its an honour to have BET finally at out screens we should feel proud that we are truly blessed, this channel will opon doors to all black british singers, songwriters,models entertainers who find it hard to break in. The platform in a real media enterprise will be great, it will be much easier for them to break in to the america and finally dominate by showing their talent to everyone, a chance for americans to know that black british culture lives and the queen and biscuit and cakes are not the only thing you find in the uk, cant wait to see what shows and what black people they have choosen to represent us in the uk.

136.

K

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

Alicia Keys is so FLY!

137.

coco_fiere

Monday, March 3, 2008 /

That Reggie Yates is super-swishy and there is NO way he’s dating any female, least of all Ms. Kelly. As for BET infecting the world with their foolishness and utter ignorance, smdh.

138.

MISS LADY

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 /

I’m from the US but I still love Lemar. That man is so sexy!!!! Those eyes……. DAMN! I wonder what different programs they will have in the UK than they do in the US?

139.

CiCi

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 /

I’m so embarrassed by my fellow brits that have been commenting on here… Can we all just learn to speak English please?? How old are we? There is slang and all but you lot are actually speaking a completely different language and making us all look like fools..

Plus, i don’t want BET over here again, I for one will not be watching, BET was cool back in the day when we had it before but now i find its a very disappointing channel. Which represents us wrongly.

140.

CiCi

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 /

Plus leave our Reggie alone, he normally looks cool I don’t know what the hell is wrong with him and that scarf

141.

Richaay

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 /

Ooh, our very own BET!!

Tiana went?! She plays Chelsea fox in Eastenders, and Zarahh played Joanne Jackson in Corrie!

Jamelia is great, Thankyou and Beware of the dog, they are great songs.

Aleshia is there to which is great! Lisa Maffia should have gone too!

We have a few more though!!! Mutya Buena, she is great! Amyyy Wino, all this kind of music!

142.

» DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT UPDATE: SAMATA’S MUSE // 'CONCRETELOOP.COM' YOU BETTER ACT LIKE YOU KNOW!

Thursday, March 6, 2008 /

[...] of BET UK, Samata hit up the official launch over the weekend. You may remember this post we made about it. Check her out with Laurie and [...]

143.

Pusha1979

Friday, March 7, 2008 /

OK…deep breath before I start this…

BET coming back to the UK is an achievement on various levels and I’ll tell you why in some of the following:

Black people (en masse) have been in the UK since the 1950s/60s. We have been in the UK before this but not in the huge numbers this counrty saw back then…so it’s now 2008 and we still haven’t got our act together as a community to start and own a media network sand we’re b*tching when another country’s Black community takes the initiative.

If we really want to control our own image we have to own it, not through just owning TV networks, magazines and radio stations but understanding that every single thing we do is scrutinised, politicised, racialised and blown out of proportion because we’re Black and we do not invest enough in our own communities economic and political power to change things. Whether BET is rubbish or not is not the problem here, the problem is that in so many other parts of our lives we’re not treated equally and sometimes not even like humans because we’re Black and that cannot be solved by BET, Channel U, Hot97 or Choice FM. the answer lies within us all who share the same skin colour but we often forget that. easily turning into the victim and shouting about how much wrong people done to us…there’s no denying this, but in 2008 how long we going to keep saying that and even if we get the reparations, the apologies and the compensation we do rightly deserve for buidling the west to the strong point it is over the majority of the world which is still in development.

There’s no real reason for anyone to be looking to the Tv, magazines and radio to see ‘true’ representations of ourselves…it won’t happen. All the afore mentioned media outlets are run for profit not to make Black people feel better about ourselves. If we have low self esteem why turn to the media to make us feel better…it was never created by us to serve us or our interests. we’re playing and living a game in a framework that was never made for us so why do you want it to be sympathetic to our experience? Yes, in an ideal world, broadcasters should be responsible, but doesn’t make them money; it’s not their bottom line!

We have a responsibility to ourselves to carry ourselves with respect..no one else can teach you that except for your family unit. if you don’t have one, seek one out, because many claim who come from a broken home say it was easy to get into trouble…of course it’s easy, good things tend to be hard but the rewards are much sweeter and longerlasting.

there’s so many points I haven’t covered but it’s late and I guess most of you will be tired of reading this anyway. look for the answers in yourself and carry yourself right…act up to those images ans tereotypes fuels channels like the afore mentioned to reproduce them. When the streets dance to a new beat so will the channels output…but right now we all love the ignorance and it will be the death of us.

144.

sarflondongirl

Sunday, March 9, 2008 /

@ 149. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I thought I would have seen a comment like yours sooner but obviously we were too busy to find this post.

I wanted to find out more about the launch party of BET UK and stumbled upon this post. My personal opinion is that the more ambitious and loudest voices will get heard: those whose lives some of us don’t aspire to will be featured, packaged, marketed and sold to the highest bidder in markets where there’s a hungry demand - as it’s been put here degrading, misogynist, ill-perceived, gun-toting, drug-pushing, illiterate, uneducated reflections of black people as a representative of all blacks to the world.

Remember what happened to the Crosby show back in the 80’s? Here in the UK we saw the shows 1 to 3 years later than US broadcast dates. But I believe it disappeared because even black people didn’t want a programme with entirely positive role models. So it was canned. We don’t even see the repeats anymore…. the perceived state of our mindsets from TV execs is that low.

I work for a TV network and I’m realising that it’s difficult to cater for all audiences. Before I came to this post, I already knew the sentiment of African Americans with regards to BET was quite negative. I apologise for underestimating black people’s sentiment in the UK tho’…….. Sorry people!!!

BET, Channel U, Choice FM, Urban TV, Nollywood TV etc etc all have a place, they all have an audience that it’s business owners are catering to. From a business perspective, I admire the way these people got up and put their time, effort, money, blood, sweat and tears on the line to bring their views and experiences of the black experience to the world. It doesn’t matter whether I agree with the points or not.

It’s just unfortunate that so far, TV execs don’t believe that the content that most of us desire will make money. Who says they’re right? Nowadays you can prove anyone wrong with technology. So, I don’t think all is lost. For those ambitious ones, why not start up your own TV network that produces and distributes the content that you feel represents you as a US or UK black person? What makes you think you are powerless to do so?

For those who complain, you have the power do something about it. Find it and make it happen. Just like I am!

145.

Nothing But Love

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 /

BET is wack