Normani will not be performing at the BET Awards on Sunday. The singer took to her Instagram story shortly before the ceremony was set to begin, revealing that she suffered an unspecified injury during rehearsals.
“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,” she wrote. “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.”
Normani, who released Dopamine, earlier this month, spoke with Rolling Stone ahead of her releasing her long-awaited debut album. In the interview, she discussed some of the issues that kept her from releasing music consistently following her Fifth Harmony days, including heartbreak, enduring cancer treatments for both of her parents, and outside scrutiny. But she has persevered and discussed the album-making process.
“I naturally gravitate to darker-sounding things from a sonic perspective, something that feels like it has bite and grit and edginess to it. I always just like being left of center,” she said. “At one point, I was like, ‘Listen, everything can’t sound dark. We want to take everybody on a ride. We need to add some color.’ I love Missy Elliott so much, Timbaland production. I like unique things that haven’t necessarily really been heard, so that’s also why production is my favorite part of the process. I’m honestly already thinking about what I want the show to look like. I’m excited to perform ‘Lights On.’ That’s my Janet moment.”
In her Instagram post on Sunday, she said she was “devastated” to not be able to perform, but it would delay her healing and she is focused on recovering.
“There is nothing more I wanted to do than perform for you and also, get back to what fulfills me most — BEING ON STAGE. Thank you so much for understanding,” she added, and also thanked 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.”
The BET Awards will include performances from Will Smith, Ice Spice, GloRilla, Ms. Lauryn Hill and & YG Marley, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Tyla, and Victoria Monét. Megan Thee Stallion opened the show.