Summer Walker may have given the shortest acceptance speech in award show history.
R&B newby Summer Walker has built her brand thus far on being an amazingly talented singer who doesn’t enjoy fame because of her social anxiety. The Over It songstress has sparked conversation and debates about mental health among celebrities and what fans should expect from entertainers who are introverted. She went as far as cancelling dates on her tour saying that interacting with so many people at once was too overwhelming for her to handle. So when she was given her first ever award at the 2019 BET Soul Train Awards, Summer delivered a speech that exemplified who she really is as a person once more.
Summer Walker received the award for Best New Artist Sunday night, beating out competition from Lucky Daye, Mahalia, Nicole Bus, Pink Sweat$ and YK Osiris. Summer rightfully walked away with the honor after her debut album broke the streaming record for female R&B. As the “Playing Games” singer timidly took the stage to accept her award, she may have given the shortest thank you speech in the history of awards. “Hi, um, thank you so much. I didn’t expect this. Thank you LVRN and thank you London On Da Track. I really appreciate it,” she said before turning and walking off the stage. The clip itself was only 17 seconds.
Audience members hadn’t even stopped cheering before her speech was finished and of course the moment immediately went viral. Summer herself posted the footage with the caption “omfg wow I’m adorable” with several laughing emojis. But many fans didn’t find her speech funny and some took to social media to accuse her of putting on an act. Others came to her defense and noted how serious social anxiety is, and commended the singer for her accomplishments.
Summer Walker’s speech at the soul train awards has me weak. My mom was like “that’s all she had to say?” pic.twitter.com/Zm1qxEgWIc
— camryn (@camillllion) November 18, 2019
summer walker award speech had me like.. pic.twitter.com/SnQ88sbWf9
— Renita Michele Styling (@renitamichele) November 18, 2019
Y’all can’t give a speech in front of a class at school but are shaming Summer Walker for her social anxiety.
Until you’ve stood in front of thousands with a mic, your opinion is invalid ?????
— ?BACON BEAR???? (@littlebaconbear) November 13, 2019
Other winners for the night included Cardi B, H.E.R., Lizzo, Khalid, Chris Brown and more.
Here’s a full list of nominations and winners from the 2019 BET Soul Train Awards:
Best New Artist
Summer Walker *WINNER
Lucky Daye
Mahalia
Nicole Bus
Pink Sweat$
YK Osiris
Soul Train Certified Award
Trevor Jackson *WINNER
Ciara
Daniel Caesar
Fantasia
india.arie
Kelly Rowland
Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Kirk Franklin *WINNER
Bebe Winans
Donald Lawrence
Erica Campbell
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Tori Kelly
Rhythm & Bars Award
Cardi B, “Money” *WINNER
21 Savage feat J. Cole, “A Lot”
DaBaby, “Suge”
J. Cole, “Middle Child”
Meek Mill feat. Drake, “Going Bad”
Megan Thee Stallion feat. DaBaby, “Cash Sh*t”
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
H.E.R. *WINNER
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Lizzo
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Khalid *WINNER
Anderson .Paak
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Daniel Caesar
Tank
Album/Mixtape of the Year
Cuz I Love You, Lizzo *WINNER
Shea Butter Baby, Ari Lennox
Indigo, Chris Brown
Ella Mai, Ella Mai
I Used To Know Her, H.E.R.
Free Spirit, Khalid
Song of the Year
“No Guidance,” Chris Brown feat. Drake *WINNER
“Before I Let Go,” Beyoncé
“Shot Clock,” Ella Mai
“Talk,” Khalid
“Juice,” Lizzo
“Girls Need Love (Remix),” Summer Walker feat. Drake
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award
“Brown Skin Girl,” written by Beyoncé Knowles, Carlos St. John, Adio Marchant, Shawn Carter, Stacy Barthe, Anathi Mnyango, Michael Uzowuru, Ayodeji Balogun, Richard Isong (Beyoncé feat. Saint Jhn, Wizkid & Blue Ivy Carter) *WINNER
“Hard Place,” written by H.E.R., David Harris, Sam Ashworth & Ruby Amanfu (H.E.R.)
“Juice,” written by Theron Thomas, Sam Sumser, Sean Small, Eric Frederic & Melissa Jefferson (Lizzo)
“Make It Better,” written by Brandon Anderson, William Smokey Robinson, Alaina Chenevert, Miguel Atwood Ferguson, Daniel Manman Farid Nassar (Anderson .Paak feat. Smokey Robinson)
“No Guidance,” written by Christopher Brown, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Josha Lewis, Michee Lebrun, Nija Charles, Teddy Walton, Noah Shebib & Tyler Bryant (Chris Brown feat. Drake)
“Talk,” written by Howard Lawrence, Guy Lawrence & Khalid Robinson (Khalid)
Best Dance Performance
Chris Brown feat. Drake, “No Guidance” *WINNER
Beyoncé, “Spirit”
Danileigh feat. Chris Brown, “Easy (Remix)”
Lizzo, “Juice”
Normani, “Motivation”
Teyana Taylor, “WTP”
Video of the Year
Lizzo, “Juice” *WINNER
Alicia Key, “Raise A Man”
Beyoncé, “Spirit”
Childish Gambino, “Feels Like Summer”
Khalid, “Better”
Best Collaboration Performance
Chris Brown feat. Drake, “No Guidance” *WINNER
Ari Lennox feat. J. Cole, “Shea Butter Baby”
Beyoncé feat. Saint Jhn, Wizkid & Blue Ivy Carter, “Brown Skin Girl”
Cardi B & Bruno Mars, “Please Me”
PJ Morton & JOJO, “Say So”
Ty Dolla $ign feat. J. Cole, “Purple Emoji”
