Teyana Taylor shouted out her daughters, Junie and Rue, while accepting the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards on Sunday night (June 28).
After receiving the honor from Janet Jackson, the Oscar-nominated actress and singer ended her speech with a message to her girls.
“And to my greatest masterpiece, my babies, Junie and Rue. If one day people remember me as an icon, I pray the two of you always remember me simply as home. Mommy loves you so so much. I love you and you better be watching me and off them goddamn phones per usual.”
Earlier in her speech, Taylor reflected on receiving the award and the journey that led her there.
“Tonight they handed me a title, and that title is Icon of the Year,” she said. “And for a little minute I wondered if I was supposed to feel uncomfortable saying that title out loud.”
“I’m not accepting what I’ve earned with arrogance, I’m accepting what I’ve earned with gratitude,” she continued.
Taylor said much of her career has been spent helping others pursue their dreams.
“Most of my career has been spent building my own dream while helping somebody else build theirs, because I believe there’s room for all of us to win,” she said. “Even if that means pouring from my own cup into someone else’s, so they can overflow, not because I had to, but because that’s just who I am. That’s pretty damn iconic, if you ask me.”
Taylor also described the entertainment industry as “wicked.”
“This business is wicked, you know. It teaches us to compete, but I’ve never believed that my success had to cost someone else theirs… Because I believe greatness isn’t measured by how many people stand beneath you, it’s measured by how many people stand beside you because you’re willing to reach back, that’s the only legacy I care about. So tonight I will wear this title loud and proud because I promise to continue to earn it.”
