Tonight’s BET Awards featured last-minute changes to the show to honor late entertainer Michael Jackson. The show opened with a medley of Jackson’s songs by New Edition. Host Jamie Foxx then came out dressed like Jackson and performed “Beat It.”

“That man was ours…It was all about what he sound like,” Foxx said. He went on to ask, “Who was the best?”  to which the audience cheered “Michael Jackson.”  Foxx then moon-walked to even more cheers.

Viewers had mixed reactions to the opening:

1. 
   jazzmentynes If you didn’t know, Michael Jackson was 1. Black and 2. He belonged to Black people. Jamie Foxx wants you to know that. #BET
2. 
   Scamandalous It feels like Jamie Foxx is making fun of Michael Jackson.
3. 
   jproduction JAMIE FOXX : “Michael Jackson Belonged to US” – WE’re going to Celebrate this Black Man’s LIFE!!!” – that’s right!
4. 
   _VNL Is anyone else mildly offended by Jamie Foxx’s terribly weak portrayal of Michael Jackson? #BET
5. 
   JoyPatterson1 lol Jamie foxx doing Michael Jackson’s Beat It on the BET awards…too funny 29 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   ellenlai I could watch Jamie Foxx dance to Michael Jackson all day long
7. 
   KissJordan bet awards…jamie foxx makes one hell of a michael jackson.
8. 
   scostalove michael jackson helped break the barrier and then jamie foxx is gonna come out the bat with he belonged to us we just shared him? okay
9. 
   attypsue jamie foxx is a trip…RIP Michael Jackson we love u!
10. 
    antoine_i Jamie Foxx is AWESOME!!! Dude is hilarious. I’m loving his harmless Michael Jackson jokes. # BET Awards

1. 
   jldillard Jamie Foxx is killing me with his memories of Michael Jackson’s at a concert at Texas Stadium.
2. 
   Jlwycoff Jamie Foxx,can’t the white ppl make some noise for Michael Jackson? #BET
3. 
   Only1GCode Jamie Foxx is puttin on’ but is is da BET awards or Michael Jackson awards??
4. 
   UFBSU is watching Jamie Foxx do Michael Jackson tributes. Awesome job Jamie, but there is only one MJ!
5. 
   ButterflyE78 @BETAwards @BET Jamie Foxx is killin it!!!! Michael Jackson is lookin down and laughing
6. 
   AmazingVictoria Jamie Foxx imitating the infamous Michael Jackson ‘Moonwalk’…’ABSOLUTE PERFECTION’! (lol)
7. 
   JayR90 Dam Jamie Foxx made my tear up. Dam he was the man. Dam we lost one of the best. In Loving Memory Of The King MIchael Jackson.

1. 
   RLMSCMAG NEW EDITION AND BOBBY BROWN PERFOMING ABC BY THE JACKSON 5 SUPERB! 29 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   shebdatchic OMG New Edition just killed it so good on the BET Awards… Jamie foxx is so funny doing beat it 29 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   SkylarEntertain New Edition reunion and Jackson 5/6 tribute was not that exciting, but Jamie Foxx Beat It video dance rocked! #betawards 29 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   justme2905 New Edition did not do ABC any justice.. A good song messed up by New Edition. 29 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   sashafrerejones Shoulda closed the circle of de-evolution and ended on New Edition. They were the last group to be plausibly called “the new Jackson Five.” 29 Jun 2009 from Power Twitter
6. 
   LuvDaVee SOOOOO if MJ didn’t die, what would @betawards have done???? Seriously they shoulda jus stopped after New Edition opening failure!!! 29 Jun 2009 from web
7. 
   _Lola_Nicole_ Just got home and watching BET awards. I dvr’d and Lord! New Edition murdered Jackson 5 but they got the dance steps down. 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterFon

Lil’ Wayne, who won the second award of the night for Best Hip-Hop, said “None of us would be in this room if it weren’t for Michael Jackson.”  A few minutes later, the show continued with Ne-Yo performing Jackson’s “Lady in My Life.”

1. 
   charliblu Damn Ne-Yo!!!!! He is doing MJ proud….Finally after that opening of a tribute!!
2. 
   djliltone Ne-Yo is officially young MJ right now!
3. 
   DougieDFresh ne-yo is smashing lady of my life, tonite is gonna be the best tribute to MJ ever!
4. 
   janicejenelle Ne-Yo doing MJ’s ‘Lady In My Life’ on the BET Awards. Dope.
5. 
   cherokeesita Ne-Yo’s doing a GREAT job w/ MJ’s song, Lady in my Life
6. 
   SincerelyMahina Ne-yo doing this song with MJ’s pic in the back is making me somewhat emotional. Michael Jackson is the first artist I can remember hearing
7. 
   twilliams2573 Thanks Ne-Yo for performing an MJ tribute without stepping out of your lane…perfect song choice…classy

After the performance, the camera panned to Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson.  Many tweeters were surprised to see him there.

1. 
   ShareMyWorld i was vry shocked 2 see joe jackson in the audience… 29 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   Ash_14 Shouldn’t Joe Jackson be with his family? Even with one of his children dead dude still picks entertainment over his family. 29 Jun 2009 from UberTwitter
3. 
   Chez_the_Prez Joe Jackson looked like he wanted NeYo to get him a switch for his performance 29 Jun 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   Perwana MJ isn’t even buried yet but Joe Jackson is @ the BET awards. Ugh. Hate is a strong word, but I’ma use it for him. 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterBerry
5. 
   UniqueZayas Wow did anyone Notice JoE Jackson in the crowd? It has to be a biter sweet Moment! 29 Jun 2009 from UberTwitter
6. 
   Flawlesslibra Mr. Joe Jackson is CELEBRATING his sons LIFE….. 29 Jun 2009 from mobile web
7. 
   SDurrwachter Joe Jackson attending the BET Awards…cam just panned on him. Can’t wrap myself around his thinking. 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterBerry
8. 
   DevonSuter BET Awards. Joe Jackson in the front row. Watching T-Pain & Jamie Fox singing about ho’s into a vocoder. RIP. 29 Jun 2009 from web

The next hour and half featured sporadic Jackson video clips as well as comments about him by various celebrities, culminating in Ciara performing his song “Heal the World.”

1. 
   HakimahS ok, can we get a real star to sing “Heal The World” Doesn’t Michael deserve class A acts, not B and C. 29 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   ItsNikkiB Who authorized this? Ciara should be doing “I’m Bad” or something else with a dance sequence…not “Heal the World” Ugh… 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterBerry
3. 
   sjfloris ciara for heal the world? fail to BET on that decision. why not something with some choreography. this shit is a H.S. talent show 4real! 29 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   miantesmama Heal the world…always makes me teary eyed 29 Jun 2009 from txt
5. 
   towandat23 Ummm who was that that just sang Heal The World?? I swear these awards are THE WORST!! 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterBerry
6. 
   caa1000 Singer Ciara singing Michael Jackson’s Heal The World at the BET Awards! Great tribute! 29 Jun 2009 from web

When the chairman CEO of BET Networks, Debra Lee, took the stage, she recognized the legacy Jackson left behind. “We knew immediately we would have to change the nature of this show. Michael Jackson was so important to our country, to our world and to our network.” She continued, “We wanted to do the perfect tribute to Michael Jackson.”

1. 
   rashiki debra lee and the bet employees looked liked they put 3-4 hrs of work into changing the show to “honor” michael jackson. what a mess! 29 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   DaLordzPrince The CEO of BET, Debra Lee, is a very well spoken person and is doing a good job of initiating the Michael Jackson Tribute. 29 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   4yosol If you want to honor him Debra Lee; plan a different SHOW!!! Not this mess!!! 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterBerry
4. 
   angeliqueisrael Debra Lee just quoted a Michael song…bet ya’ll didnt catch that!! “Like a comet blazing ‘cross the evening sky….Gone too soon” 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterFox
5. 
   MrKonsistant I thought Debra Lee was opening up a big Micheal tribute….guess not. 29 Jun 2009 from UberTwitter

In a shocking conclusion to the show, Janet Jackson (sister of Michael) came out on stage. Visibly shaken, she said “To you Michael is an icon. To us Michael is family. He will forever live in all of hearts.” As she left the stage in tears, Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo began singing Jackson’s “I’ll Be There” as a montage of Jackson played on a screen behind them.

1. 
   Musicdiva1 Janet is so strong. She did the right thing. She looked beautiful. God bless the Jackson family. Help them to be strong… 29 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   mrdaveyd very sad to see Janet Jackson.. and that picture of her and Michael.. So far the ending tribute seems good.. 29 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   xstynbotty Seeing Janet Jackson speak really touched me wow Michael is really gone! 29 Jun 2009 from txt
4. 
   JustaAngel1125 *Almost to tears*Janet Jackson….such a Strong and Beautiful Woman..My heart goes out to her. 29 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   balackdiva Janet jackson got me balling right now! R.I.P Michael Jackson.. King of pop your a legacy and will never be forgotten. 29 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   shayekuikolani Janet Jackson: Best surprise of the whole show, got me crying again.. R.I.P Michael Jackson.. 29 Jun 2009 from txt

1. 
   ArmaniJames A good ending having Jamie Foxx and Neyo sing I’ll be there but Wish there wovld have been more tributes 29 Jun 2009 from txt
2. 
   tangomega That was a perfect tribute after Janet came out. Sing his music. “I’ll Be There”. Jamie and NeYo FTW. 29 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   tahirah Man…Janet “to YOU he’s an icon…to US he’s family” jheez she was trying to make me bawl forreal. I can’t take hearing ♫ I’ll Be There ♫ 29 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   KaisonAmini Amazing final performance of I’ll Be There by Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo!!! RIP Michael and my prayers go out 2 your family and janet. 29 Jun 2009 from txt
5. 
   guiltyofcraving Caught the end of the BET Awards – Janet’s speech and Jamie Fox & Ne-Yo’s rendition of “I’ll Be There” were beautiful. So moved. RIP Michael 29 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   4True Show ended with Jamie and Ne-yo singing I’ll be there. BET completely shifted gears to do this tribute, Jamie unscripted was kool 29 Jun 2009 from web

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