Watch Rihanna give a speech honoring Mary J. Blige at the BET Awards

Mary J. Blige received BET’s Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s BET Awards, and, in honour of the momentous occasion, Rihanna gave a speech thanking Blige for her contribution to music and film for women in the music industry.

“She changed the game with her unique sound and that Mary J look,” Rihanna told the audience at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theatre. “Mary J. Blige, you have set the bar for relatable, classic, timeless music … and on behalf of all the women who came after you, like myself, thank you for being you.”

Watch Rihanna give her full speech here; see all the BET Awards performances and all the winners here.

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