Rapper
Meek Mill hosted a BET Awards pre-party Saturday night that was
interrupted by a fight that left a man stabbed, according to website
hotnewhiphop.com.
One person was killed and five injured in two separate incidents
ahead of the show at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles police
said. The events were "unauthorized and unaffiliated with the BET
Awards," BET said in a statement.
"The network and all organizers will continue to maintain a safe environment for all planned activities," the statement said.
The death and four of the injuries followed gunfire early Sunday at a
restaurant, Officer Drake Madison said. Separately, a man was stabbed
in the stomach Saturday night at a nightclub. Rapper Meek Mill hosted
the party where a fight led to the stabbing, according to website hotnewhiphop.com.
The violence could change the mood at the ceremony. This year, some
of the performers include Pharrell, John Legend and Nicki Minaj.
Top nominees are Drake, Beyonce and Jay Z, who have five each.
Drake, who was originally set to perform at the show, will not
attend, BET said Sunday. A representative for Beyonce also said the
singer wouldn't attend, and her husband's rep wouldn't divulge if Jay Z
would be there or not. Their attendance had nothing to do with the
violence at the weekend parties.
Drake didn't attend last year's show, where he won video of the year.
This year, the 27-year-old rapper's "Worst Behavior" is nominated for
the top prize, competing with Beyonce's "Drunk in Love" and "Partition,"
as well as Pharrell's "Happy" and Chris Brown's "Fine China."
Beyonce and Jay Z launched a co-headlining stadium tour days ago. She
is nominated for best female R&B/pop artist, with little
competition aside from Rihanna, while her husband will battle Drake,
Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Future for best male hip-hop artist.
Pharrell scored four nominations, including best male R&B/pop
artist, best collaboration for Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and the
viewer's choice award. Beyonce, Drake and rising newcomers August Alsina
and Jhene Aiko are also up for the fan-voted award.
Thicke, who is set to release his new album, "Paula" -- an ode to his
wife, Paula Patton, whom he is separated from -- on Tuesday, will
perform Sunday. Usher, Lil Wayne, Mary J. Blige and Iggy Azalea will
also take the stage.
Minaj and Azalea -- whose anthemic "Fancy" has spent its fifth week
on top of the Billboard charts -- will compete for best female hip-hop
artist, an award Minaj has won consecutively for four years.
Lionel Richie will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at
the show, to be hosted by Chris Rock. Kerry Washington, Kevin Hart and
Gabrielle Union are among this year's presenters.
The BET Awards will air live at 8 p.m. EDT.
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