Normani Cancels 2024 BET Awards Performance Due to Rehearsal Injury
Normani is missing the 2024 BET Awards, where she was planning to perform Sunday night (June 30).
About a half hour before this year’s BET Awards were set to begin, the Dopamine artist shared an update regarding her appearance at the show via an Instagram Story.
In a message to fans, Normani revealed she’d been hard at work preparing a performance for the event, but has been sidelined due to “a really bad accident while in rehearsals.”
“I am devastated and hate feeling like a disappointment,” wrote Normani, whose performance seems to have been teased in a BET Awards ad spotted earlier this weekend.
“Unfortunately due to my doctor’s orders, I am just not able to make this performance happen,” she said Sunday night, explaining that going forward with the performance “would delay my healing.” Following this message she posted a snapshot of herself on crutches, with her foot/ankle in a walking boot or brace, and her knee wrapped in a bandage.
Billboard reached out to a representative for Normani, who said there’s no comment beyond what’s been shared on Instagram.
Normani’s note ended with an apology for having to bow out of the BET Awards so unexpectedly. “This is definitely NOT how I envisioned this weekend,” she said, “but best believe I will be championing everyone from home tonight.”
Normani, who was a member of girl group Fifth Harmony, unveiled her long-awaited debut studio album, Dopamine, on June 14 through RCA Records. Ahead of the album’s release, Normani dropped two singles: “1:59,” featuring Gunna, and “Candy Paint.” The set also includes her 2021 hit with Cardi B, “Wild Side.”
Of Dopamine, she told Billboard News, “I’m just grateful that everybody is just really excited still for this album and for this body of work. They’ve waited on me, which I don’t really take for granted.”
Read Normani’s full statement about the BET Awards:
“I am more frustrated and disappointed than anyone believe me. 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. I desperately wanted to give you my best on that stage but performing would delay my healing. I have been going through my process and doing my best to make sense of my feelings regarding this. I am devastated and hate feeling like a disappointment to you but I have to focus on recovering at this time. Trust me, I hear you, and I see you. 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. Sending my love to BET for giving me and all of the other beautiful black women this opportunity. This is definitely NOT how I envisioned this weekend but best believe I will be championing everyone from home tonight. I’m sorrrrrrrry guys and love you so much.”
Ashley Iasimone
Billboard