ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, ANGELA BASSETT, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, NICCO ANNAN, VIOLA DAVIS, WILL SMITH AND MORE TAKE TOP HONORS AT THE “54TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS”

BRITTNEY GRINER MAKES SPECIAL APPEARANCE WITH WIFE CHERELLE, CALLING TO BRING EVERY AMERICAN DETAINED OVERSEAS HOME

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NAACP CELEBRATES THE WOMAN KING AS GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD AND VIOLA DAVIS WIN OUTSTANDING CATEGORIES

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SERENA WILLIAMS, CONGRESSMAN BENNIE THOMPSON AND BENJAMIN CRUMP RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR PRESTIGIOUS SPECIAL AWARDS

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ANGELA BASSETT RECEIVES STANDING OVATION AS SHE ACCEPTS ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

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GABRIELLE UNION-WADE AND DWYANE WADE HONORED WITH PRESIDENT’S AWARD WITH SPEECH FROM NAACP PRESIDENT AND CEO DERRICK JOHNSON

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HOSTED BY QUEEN LATIFAH THE STAR-STUDDED SHOW INCLUDED APPEARANCE FROM DAMSON IDRIS,  ISSA RAE, JANELLE JAMES, JANELLE MONÁE, JONATHAN MAJORS, KERRY WASHINGTON, SHERYL LEE RALPH, TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, ZENDAYA, AND MORE

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 Watch an encore presentation Sunday, February 26 at 8pm et/pt on BET

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“54th NAACP Image Awards” Images (Photo Credit: Getty Images for BET): Click HERE 

“54th NAACP Image Awards” 2023 Clips (Courtesy of BET): Click HERE

*BROADCAST RESTRICTIONS FURTHER BELOW

Pasadena, CA (February 25, 2023) –

Tonight, NAACP and BET honored Black excellence in music, television, film, and sports across more than 70 categories at the “54th NAACP Image Awards”.  Hosted by artist, actress, producer, author, and entrepreneur Queen Latifah, the iconic show aired live at 8 pm ET/ PT on BET live from the Pasadena Civic Center Auditorium in Pasadena. Abbott Elementary, Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Nicco Annan, Viola Davis and Will Smith take top honors. An array of special award recipients delivered moving speeches, including Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade, Serena Williams, and  Benjamin Crump. The night also included a star-studded tribute to Sean “Diddy” Combs who was honored with the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, making  the show once again the #1 trending topic on Twitter.

Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural awards shows, the “54th NAACP Image Awards” continued a tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to that purpose.

The “54TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS” Images

SHOW AND RED CARPET:

https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/54th-naacp-image-awards

PRESS ROOM:

https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/54th-naacp-image-awards-press-room

BACKSTAGE:

https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/54th-naacp-image-awards-backstage

The “54th NAACP Image Awards” Show Highlights include:

• • Host Queen Latifah opened the “54th NAACP Image Awards” with the liberating number “I’m Gonna Live Til I Die”. She performed a monologue all about the “drive, determination and success” of the Black royalty in the room.

 

• • Queen Latifah also recognized Brittney Griner who made a special appearance onstage with her wife, Cherelle after her return to the United States after her detainment in Russia.

 

• • Abbott Elementary cast members Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James presented the Outstanding Actor in a Drama series award to Nicco Annan for his role in P-Valley (STARZ).

 

• • 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams was honored with the prestigious Jackie Robinson Sports Award by actress Kerry Washington.

 

• • Actors Damson Idris and Cliff “Method Man” Smith presented Angela Bassett with her award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

 

• • Chairman’s Award recipient Congressman Bennie Thompson was recognized for his advocacy efforts with a speech by NAACP Chairman Leon Russell.

 

• • The Best Man: The Final Chapters cast (Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard) presented the Abbott Elementary cast with their award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

 

• • Viola Davis took the stage to accept her award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, presented by Issa Rae and Jonathan Majors.

 

• • Bradley Ross Jackson and Derrick Lee Foward were recognized for their Youth Activist of the Year and Activist of the Year

 

• • Attorney Benjamin Crump was honored with the Social Justice Impact Award by Tracee Ellis Ross.

 

• • Will Smith took home the award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

 

• • President’s Awards recipients Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade dedicated their award to their daughter Zaya after being honored by NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.

 

• • The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cast graced the stage to accept their award for Outstanding Motion Picture, presented by

 

• • To close out the night, Angela Bassett received a standing ovation as she took home her award for Entertainer of the Year.

 

The “54th NAACP Image Awards” simulcast across Paramount Global networks including BET HER, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, LOGO, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, POP TV, Smithsonian, TV Land, and VH1.

The “54th NAACP Image Awards” is presented by Wells Fargo and sponsored by Bank of America, Gushers, Google, Airbnb, Amazon, FedEx, Lowe’s, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Audible, Bacardi and Mielle.

For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.

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The complete list of winners for the “54th NAACP Image Awards” are:

 

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Angela Bassett

 

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY

@KevOnStage – Kevin Fredericks

 

TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood (CBS)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

P-Valley (Starz)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nicco Annan – P-Valley (Starz)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Cliff “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Loretta Devine – P-Valley (Starz)

 

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Morris Chestnut – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)

 

OUTSTANDING NEWS/INFORMATION (SERIES OR SPECIAL)

ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING TALK SERIES

Sherri (Syndicated)

 

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM, REALITY COMPETITION OR GAME SHOW (SERIES)

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SHOW (SERIES OR SPECIAL)

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

 

OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Tab Time (YouTube Originals)

 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH (SERIES, SPECIAL, TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED-SERIES)

Ja’Siah Young – Raising Dion (Netflix)

 

OUTSTANDING HOST IN TALK OR NEWS/INFORMATION (SERIES OR SPECIAL) – INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Jennifer Hudson – The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)

 

OUTSTANDING HOST IN A REALITY/REALITY COMPETITION, GAME SHOW OR VARIETY (SERIES OR SPECIAL) – Individual or Ensemble

Tabitha Brown – Tab Time (YouTube Originals)

 

OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMANCE

Glynn Turman – Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

 

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED SERIES

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

 

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE (TELEVISION)

Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

 

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM SERIES – COMEDY OR DRAMA

Between The Scenes – The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

 

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM SERIES – REALITY/NONFICTION

Daring Simone Biles (Snap)

 

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVE (TELEVISION)

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Keith David – From Scratch (Netflix)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Nia Long – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

 

RECORDING CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING NEW ARTIST

Coco Jones – ICU (Def Jam Recordings)

 

OUTSTANDING MALE ARTIST

Chris Brown – Breezy (Deluxe) (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

 

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ARTIST

Beyoncé – Renaissance (Columbia Records/ Parkwood Entertainment)

 

OUTSTANDING GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN ALBUM

Kingdom Book One – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin (Tribl Records, Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Inspiration)

 

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL SONG

No Woman No Cry – Tems (Def Jam Recordings)

 

OUTSTANDING MUSIC VIDEO/VISUAL ALBUM

Lift Me Up – Rihanna (Roc Nation/Def Jam Recordings)

 

OUTSTANDING ALBUM

Renaissance – Beyoncé (Parkwood/Columbia Records)

 

OUTSTANDING SOUNDTRACK/COMPILATION ALBUM

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By – Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Dave Jordan (Def Jam Recordings/Hollywood Records)

 

OUTSTANDING GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN SONG

Positive – Erica Campbell (My Block Inc.)

 

OUTSTANDING JAZZ ALBUM – INSTRUMENTAL

JID014 (Jazz is Dead) – Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge

 

OUTSTANDING JAZZ ALBUM – VOCAL

Legacy – Adam Blackstone

 

OUTSTANDING SOUL/R&B SONG

Cuff It – Beyoncé (Columbia Record/ Parkwood Entertainment)

 

OUTSTANDING HIP HOP/RAP SONG

Hotel Lobby – Quavo, Takeoff (Motown Records/Quality Control Music)

 

OUTSTANDING DUO, GROUP OR COLLABORATION (TRADITIONAL)

Silk Sonic – Love’s Train (Atlantic Records)

 

OUTSTANDING DUO, GROUP OR COLLABORATION (CONTEMPORARY)

Chris Brown feat. Wizkid – Call Me Every Day (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

 

LITERARY CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – FICTION

Take My Hand – Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Penguin Random House)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – NON-FICTION

Finding Me – Viola Davis (HarperCollins Publishers)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – DEBUT AUTHOR

Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen – George McCalman (HarperCollins Publishers)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – BIOGRAPHY/AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Scenes from My Life – Michael K. Williams, Jon Sternfeld (Penguin Random House)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – INSTRUCTIONAL

Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration – Tracey Lewis-Giggetts (Gallery/Simon and Schuster)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – POETRY

To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness – Robin Coste Lewis (Alfred A. Knopf)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – CHILDREN

Stacey’s Remarkable Books – Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas (HarperCollins – Balzer + Bray)

 

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK – YOUTH/TEENS

Cookies & Milk – Shawn Amos (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

 

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE

Will Smith – Emancipation (Apple)

 

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE

Viola Davis – The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE

Tenoch Huerta – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE

Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT MOTION PICTURE

The Inspection (A24)

 

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE

Bantú Mama (ARRAY)

 

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Jalyn Hall – TILL (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

 

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE

Wendell & Wild (Netflix)

 

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE – MOTION PICTURE

Keke Palmer – Lightyear (Walt Disney Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM (LIVE ACTION)

Dear Mama… (Film Independent)

 

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM (ANIMATED)

More Than I Want To Remember (MTV Entertainment Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVE (MOTION PICTURE)

Ericka Nicole Malone – Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (Hulu)

 

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY (FILM)

Civil (Netflix)

 

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION)

Everything’s Gonna be All White (Showtime)

 

WRITING CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A COMEDY SERIES

Brittani Nichols – Abbott Elementary – “Student Transfer” (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES

Marissa Jo Cerar – Women of the Movement – “Episode 101” (ABC)

 

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR SPECIAL

Scott Mescudi (Story By), Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams – Entergalactic (Netflix)

 

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A MOTION PICTURE/strong>

Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A COMEDY SERIES

Angela Barnes – Atlanta – “The Homeliest Little Horse” (FX)

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA SERIES

Giancarlo Esposito – Better Call Saul – “Axe and Grind” (AMC)

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR SPECIAL

Anton Cropper – Fantasy Football (Paramount+)

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A MOTION PICTURE

Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION OR MOTION PICTURE)

Reginald Hudlin – Sidney (Apple TV+)

 

PODCAST CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING NEWS AND INFORMATION PODCAST

Beyond the Scenes – The Daily Show (Central Productions, LLC)

 

OUTSTANDING LIFESTYLE/SELF-HELP PODCAST

Therapy for Black Girls (Therapy for Black Girls)

 

OUTSTANDING SOCIETY AND CULTURE PODCAST

LeVar Burton Reads (SiriusXM’s Stitcher Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PODCAST

Two Funny Mamas (Mocha Podcasts Network)

 

COSTUME DESIGN, MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING CATEGORIES

 

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN (TELEVISION OR FILM)

Ruth Carter – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

OUTSTANDING MAKE-UP (TELEVISION OR FILM)

Debi Young, Sandra Linn, Ngozi Olandu Young, Gina Bateman – We Own This City (HBO Max)

 

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING (TELEVISION OR FILM)

Camille Friend – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

 

 

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“54TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS” BROADCAST RESTRICTIONS

News programs and services may excerpt portions of the “54^th NAACP Image Awards” telecast during the seven days following the broadcast premiere on February 25, 2023, solely for reporting about the “54^th NAACP Image Awards” as an event and subject to the following conditions.

BROADCAST RESTRICTIONS:

• Up to three minutes in total, but no more than thirty seconds of any single moment or performance, may be used within the period ending the first day following the telecast.
• Up to one minute in total, not separate from the three minutes referenced above and no more than thirty seconds of any single moment or performance may be used within the period of the second through seventh days following the telecast.
• Any display, exhibition or performance of the material must be accompanied by the chyron, “Courtesy of NAACP/BET”.

ONLINE RESTRICTIONS:

• Otherwise, up to thirty seconds of any single moment or performance may be used as part of a wrap-up package through the seventh day following the telecast (For purposes of clarification you may NOT use portions of the “54^th NAACP Image Awards” as standalone video assets).
• Any display, exhibition or performance of the material must be accompanied by the chyron, “Courtesy of NAACP/BET”, and a link to bet.com

 

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ABOUT NAACP:

Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.

About BET:

BET, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions, including BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, a growing BET festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

NAACP Image Awards Media Contacts:

Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis | [email protected]

Jonah Bryson | [email protected]org

Chloe Duverge | [email protected]

Luis Defrank | [email protected]