BET Responds to Discrimination Rumor… at The Insider

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On August 7th, I posted a story about BET saying “no” to black female hosts along with a number to call to voice concerns about the network. The post was derived from an email sent by a reader and word traveled across the internet fast with many calls being placed to the BET offices. I guess little ole’ me didn’t make enough noise as the issue had to make it’s way to large hip hop sites such as SOHH.com before BET felt the need to respond. Check out their response below:

BET Networks respects the power and importance of blogging, but we also believe that for the benefit of our audience, we must distinguish fact from fiction. In response to posts on SOHH.com’s Ya Heard blog and the Panache Report, Julissa is no longer on BET, and hosts Danella (BLACK CARPET), Alesha Renee (THE 5ive and BET NOW) and Jina Johnson (BET NEWS) are African American. The names of the BET shows and Rocsi’s nationality as described on SOHH.com are inaccurate.

BET Networks is proud of the incredible Black women we have representing our channels – not just on our hosted shows, but on all of our specials and series across the board. From the compelling young females on Baldwin Hills to our talented judges on Sunday Best to the knowledgeable panelists we’ve had on Hip Hop vs. America, to name just a few of our shows, BET Networks has been and will continue to be committed to ensuring we have strong Black female representation on our networks.

Above all, BET Networks proudly seeks to include and explore Black women throughout the African Diaspora, as shown through the “Am I My Sister’s Keeper” segment of Hip Hop vs. America II, moderated by MC Lyte, where our brilliant all-female panel crossed complexions, ages, homelands and backgrounds.

We thank SOHH.com and all of our viewers, supporters and critics for contributing to the dynamic conversation of Black women’s roles at BET Networks and the media at large, as it is our goal to not only host and participate in this dialogue, but to also incorporate some of the solutions that come from these discussions.

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Just because they responded doesn’t mean we have to stop calling. I know someone mentioned that they called and where told that BET still employs african american women as hosts but as an equal opportunity employer, that is what they are supposed to tell you. I have nothing against the network but as an african american woman, who has already faced limited job opportunities (hence the reason I started this blog), I couldn’t let this issue slide. It’s called Black Entertainment Television…we gots to do better.

Source: Necole Bitchie.com

11 necolebitchie Published 8/14/08 Message Add to Friends

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