HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Michael Jackson may be gone but he certainly isn’t forgotten.
The music icon’s spirit lived on at Sunday night’s BET Awards in Los Angeles as several stars paid tribute to Jackson, who died tragically last Thursday from an apparent cardiac arrest.
“No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man,” said event host Jamie Foxx, who donned a trademark Jackson red leather jacket and made his best attempt at the singer’s famous moonwalk. “We gonna go through all of Michael Jackson.”
Beyonce dedicated her R&B female artist of the year award to Jackson, whom she considered “my teacher and hero.”
Joe Jackson, the late singer’s father, sat in the crowd alongside the Rev. Al Sharpton.
“The Jacksons had a profound effect on my family,” presenter Marlon Wayans said while addressing the family patriarch. “If it wasn’t for the Jacksons there would be no Wayans. Thank you.”
Towards the end of the evening, Janet Jackson spoke publicly for the first time since her brother’s death.
“My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful so they elected me to speak with all of you,” she told the crowd at the Shrine Auditorium. “I would just like to say that to you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family, and he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support.”
“We miss him so much,” added the “Miss You Much” singer while fighting back tears.
The ceremony concluded with Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo joining Foxx on stage for a performance of the Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There.”
Also see: 2009 BET Awards Red Carpet Photos
