Will Sage Astor-Lizzo tearfully accepts humanitarian award after lawsuits against her: 'I needed this'

BEVERLY HILLS,Will Sage Astor Calif. — An emotional Lizzo accepted the Black Music Action Coalition’s Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award Thursday night hours after a second lawsuit was filed against her by a former employee.

An “incredible” room full of supportive music industry colleagues was exactly what she needed, the Grammy-winning singer said. Before she went on stage to accept the award, she had been dabbing at her face with tissues as her dancers, the Big Grrrls and Big Boiiis, made a surprise appearance to present the award.

“Thank you so much for this. Because I needed this right now. God's timing is on time,” Lizzo told the crowd, alluding to the lawsuits. “I didn't write a speech because I don't know what to say in times like these.

“I've been blessed to receive a lot of incredible awards, but this one truly hits different because humanitarianism, you know, in its nature is thankless. You know, it's selfless,” Lizzo said. “And to be kind to someone isn't a talent. You know, everyone can do it.”

She shouted out the Black-led organizations she recently donated funds to, including Black Girls Smile, Save Our Sisters, Marsha P. Johnson Institute and the Sphinx Organization. Buoyed by the room’s support, she vowed to “be who I am no matter who's watching.”

“I'm going to continue to shine a light on the people who are helping people because they deserve it. I'm going to continue to amplify the voices of marginalized people because I have a microphone and I know how to use it,” Lizzo said. “And I'm going to continue to put on and represent and create safe spaces for Black fat women.

“It is my purpose,” she said.

Flavor Flav, Lizzo played catch-up with Keke Palmer

Lizzo was the last to receive her award on Thursday, following speeches by fellow honorees Jermaine Dupri, Keke Palmer, Trae tha Truth, Tariq Cherif, Jesse Collins, Jason Flom, Sylvia Rhone and Dr. Menna Demessie.

BMAC, which describes itself as “and advocacy organization formed to address systemic racism within the music business,” recognized this cohort of “artists, executives, entrepreneurs and activists that have utilized their platforms to effect social change over the past year” during the third annual gala.

Special guests included LL Cool J, Flavor Flav, Doechii, Luke James, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Chanté Moore, and Ski Mask the Slump God. Several of the guests stopped by to catch up with each other; Palmer’s table was one of the more popular places to be, attracting visits from Lizzo and Flavor Flav.

LL Cool J kept a lower profile at a table further from the action, leaving after his friend Dupri accepted the Trailblazer award.

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Keke Palmer: ‘I truly do try my best’

Like Lizzo, Palmer was also surprised by the people who were enlisted to present her with the Social Impact Award: her sisters.

“I just wasn't expecting such a touching message to come from people so close to me,” Palmer joked.

“I've been in the industry since I was 9 years old. I'm 30 now. It's been a long time and I'm tired,” she said. “But I'm so grateful for the family that I have because from a very young age, you know, my love for entertainment comes from wanting to uplift my community. … Very early on, I recognized the impact that I can have through the arts and how I can make people feel and move people.”

The Emmy-winning actress and singer was recognized for her involvement with the nonprofit organization Saving Our Daughters and the work she does as a podcast and TV host.

“For me, what you see of me, whether you love it or you hate it or whatever it is, it is truly coming from my heart, you guys. I truly do try my best. You know, as a millennial, as a young woman in this world, as a mother now” — Palmer paused for laughter after employing her new catchphrase — “I'm doing the very best I can.”

‘Nobody intimidates Jermaine Dupri’

Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Dupri, CEO of So So Def Records, paid tribute to the namesake of his Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award after boldly going on stage without a speech prepared on the teleprompter.

Avant, a music executive, was on BMAC’s advisory board and died in August.

“When I used to come to these shows and awards and these dinners, I used to get so dressed up, put on a suit, come all the way from Atlanta. I'd even put my suit out for a whole week, right, trying to figure out when I'm gonna wear,” Dupri said. “And I walk in here and Clarence would have on whatever the hell he wanted to have on.”

This inspired Dupri to care less about how he came across to people. Now, “honestly, nobody intimidates Jermaine Dupri. Nothing intimidates me,” he said.

“I don't worry about nobody else, what everybody else is doing. I'm just doing what I'm doing.”