Taraji P. Henson tried to show love by giving flowers to stars in the BET Awards audience on Sunday — only to dish out a number of embarrassing slip-ups.
The host stopped in her tracks upon seeing nominee Halle Bailey in the crowd — but pronounced the singer’s name wrong, as “hay-lee” (instead of “howl-lee”).
Then Henson — who’d likened the event to a “family reunion” — continued to make her way through Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. She spotted the TikToker Jordan Howlett (otherwise known as Jordan Thee Stallion), who she referred to as a “Method Man look-a-like.”
“Meth is married — are you?” Henson, asked before awkwardly making it clear to viewers that she thought Howlett was another TikToker, food critic Keith Lee.
“Mr. Keith Lee, I know what you’re thinking right now, this is about a 10.9 outta 10?” she asked Howlett, riffing on Lee’s catchphrase.
Howlett quickly corrected Henson by pointing toward Lee and his wife, Ronni, who were sitting alongside him in the crowd.
“I got caught up in my own inner monologue, I’m so sorry,” Henson told Lee before repeating her “10.9″ line to the food critic.
She proceeded to call Lee “fine, too” in front of his wife, before walking away.
Taraji P Henson mistakes Jordan Howlett and Keith Lee
this is so bad #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/uVqEW9dLHH— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) July 1, 2024
Social media users on X couldn’t help but cringe at Henson’s embarrassing mix-up.
I can’t get over that Keith Lee segment 😭 #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/DPnOpsnuoz— rue🧞♀️ (@rueeinmee) July 1, 2024
Taraji not only mixed up Keith Lee with someone else, but you told him to call you and his wife is right there omg #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/KVmylJs7F1— nat 🇲🇸🇦🇬 (@laugh_track_nat) July 1, 2024
Ronni when Taraji tryna holla at her man Keith Lee right in front of her #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/0Aup02yAvN— Cloud9ineDreams💫 (@Cloud9ineDreams) July 1, 2024
Taraji calling Halle “hailey” mixing up Keith Lee with another man and then telling the REAL Keith Lee to call him in front of his wife pic.twitter.com/yKd2N0O6Ze— macaulay cockin (@gardenoutro) July 1, 2024
Taraji not knowing who Keith Lee is…💀💀💀😂 #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/pR872T38Gx— Happy Pride Month! 🫶🏾 (@research_jpg) July 1, 2024
Keith Lee bouta give Taraji P Henson the worst review of her life 😭— SOUND (@itsavibe) July 1, 2024
Flirting with Keith Lee in front of his wife, mispronouncing names…oh that was terrible Taraji. #BETAwards— bryson. (@iambrysoncarter) July 1, 2024
Me at home trying to tell Taraji P Henson that’s not Keith Lee! #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/12u0KnZsYV— Kevin Lockett (@kevinlockett) July 1, 2024
Keith Lee wife was looking like #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/8plXdFlqtN— why are you hanging with these ppl (@dabigbodybaddie) July 1, 2024
Keith Lee fans right now #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/20zopAyZmM— Baller Alert 🚨 (@balleralert) July 1, 2024
