Latto Wins Big at the BET Awards: "I Said I Wasn't Gonna Cry"

Latto scooped up her first major music honor during the BET Awards on June 26, winning the title of best new artist. The "Big Energy" rapper's genuine surprise was evident as she took the stage at Microsoft Theater to accept her trophy from presenters Idris Elba and Will Packer. Wiping away tears, she exclaimed, "Oh my god, I said I wasn't gonna cry. It's giving boss b*tch." She thanked God, her mom, and her team before mentioning the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a topic many other attendees also brought up during the ceremony. "It's giving pro-choice. It's never giving a man policing my body," she added as the crowd cheered her on.

The star concluded, "I'm so grateful. If you know me and my story, it's been a long time coming. I'm so appreciative. My first award, and it's my first award by Black Entertainment Television, period. And shout-out to all the other artists in the category, you all deserve it just as much as me." Latto was nominated for the award alongside Muni Long, Tems, Baby Keem, and Yung Bleu. The win really is a long time coming for the Atlanta native, who has been making a name for herself in the music industry since age 10, won season one of the Lifetime reality series "The Rap Game" in 2016, and has been dropping music since then.

Later on during the BET Awards, Latto took the stage to perform her hit "Big Energy" and brought out Mariah Carey for a surprise cameo toward the end. Other big moments at the award show included Lizzo's opening performance of "About Damn Time," the star-studded Diddy tribute, and Jazmine Sullivan's heartfelt acceptance speech encouraging men to advocate for abortion rights.