Doechii uses BET awards victory to spotlight LA protests and criticize Trump administration

At the 2025 BET Awards, rapper Doechii made headlines not only for winning Best Female Hip-Hop Artist but also for using her acceptance speech to address the ongoing protests and immigration raids in Los Angeles, as well as the Trump administration’s response.

The ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater in downtown LA, unfolded just as large-scale demonstrations erupted outside in response to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the deployment of military forces to the city.

After thanking BET and acknowledging her fellow nominees, Doechii shifted focus to the events happening outside the awards venue. She told the audience, “There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order. Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. And I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?”
Her remarks drew applause and underscored the tense atmosphere in Los Angeles, where California National Guard units had been deployed over the weekend to respond to the protests and ICE raids.

Doechii emphasized her sense of responsibility as an artist to use her platform for advocacy. She expressed solidarity with marginalized groups, stating, “I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people: for Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza. We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear, and I hope we stand together, my brothers and my sisters, against hate and protest against it”.

Her speech came amid heightened tensions in Los Angeles, where protests broke out following ICE raids that resulted in dozens of arrests. President Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city was met with criticism from activists and artists alike, with Doechii’s comments echoing broader concerns about the use of military force against demonstrators.Doechii’s remarks were widely praised on social media and by fellow artists for their courage and timeliness. Many viewers and commentators commended her for using her moment in the spotlight to draw attention to pressing social issues and to advocate for unity and resistance against hate and oppression.