Yahoo News Normani Drops Out of BET Awards Due to Injury: ‘Hate Feeling Like a Disappointment to You’
Normani will not be performing for the BET Awards on Sunday night.
Normani wrote and posted a lengthy statement to her Instagram story saying she injured herself during rehearsals for the music and entertainment awards show. The singer was scheduled to appear as part of a lineup that also includes Ice Spice, Sexyy Red, Latto, Cardi B, Queen Latifah and the Jungle Brothers, among others. Will Smith is also slated to perform a new, original song.
More from Variety
Normani Prioritizes Vibe on Long-Awaited Debut 'Dopamine': Album Review
Taraji P Henson Returns to Host the BET Awards (TV News Roundup)
“I am more frustrated and disappointed than anyone believe me,” Normani wrote in the opening line of her statement. “I wanted to get on here and give you guys an update letting you know that while in rehearsals for BET I had a really bad accident and injured myself. I am normally good for powering through under any circumstance but unfortunately due to my doctor’s orders, I am just not able to make this performance happen.”
Normani also posted a picture of herself on crutches with her knee wrapped in a bandage. Meanwhile, her statement continued, “I desperately wanted to give you my best on that stage but performing would delay my healing.” She goes on, stressing her frustration, and emphasizing how she was looking forward to appearing on stage for what would be her live debut since the release of her long-awaited LP, “Dopamine.” “Trust me, I hear you, and I see you,” she said. “There is nothing more that I wanted to do than perform for you and also, get back to doing what fulfills me most-being on stage. Thank you so much for understanding… “
Normani, who initially came to prominence as a founding member of Fifth Harmony, has been gearing up for a major comeback with the release of her debut record. She initially announced the LP in 2022, but it endured major postponements while Normani kept her private life relatively private, and only recently opening up about her parents’ health struggles and her troubles with anxiety.
The BET Awards will take place Sunday night and honor top nominees like Drake, who leads the nominations list for a second consecutive year. His longtime collaborator Nicki Minaj follows with six nominations.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
