Keke Palmer called out BET for asking Internet comedian Druski to host the 2026 BET Awards instead of her. The incident happened at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28.
Druski referred to Keke as “fine sh-t,” which prompted her to get up out of her seat and check him. “I don’t need none of that. I’m not here for no relationship,” Keke told Druski. “This is a working relationship. Didn’t you just get the Forbes list?”
Keke snatched the mic out of Druski’s hand and said, “This should’ve been my gig. Why the hell would they have you host?” As the audience roared their approval, Keke continued: “And this is the problem with BET. They be tripping! ‘Cause this should’ve been me. I got it!” Then Keke introduced rapper Cardi B’s performance.
“This next performance is by a Grammy Award-winning artist who came through drippin’. It has been up ’til it’s stuck. Give it up for the one and only, Cardi B!”
Keke Palmer to Druski: “This should’ve been my gig. Why the hell would they have you host?”#BETAwards pic.twitter.com/3SwA1FPwON
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 29, 2026
Keke wore a shimmery, black, off the shoulder dress to the awards show. Fans on X.com praised Keke for saying what they were all thinking.
One fan tweeted: “Welp Keke Palmer hosting next year.” Another person wrote: “This is definitely the soft launch to her hosting next year.”
A third person commented: “Keke Palmer would have carried the entire show, Druski got the job because he is trending, not because he the better host.”
In March, Druski was heavily criticized for mocking Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, in a viral skit. He wore white-face makeup and a blonde wig that bore an uncanny resemblance to Erika in a video titled “How Conservative Women in America Act.”