On, Wednesday, April 22, the BET network will broadcast SAVING OUR SELVES: A BET COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORT to combat the racial disparities of the pandemic. Hosted by Kelly Rowland, Terrance Howard, Regina Hall, and Anthony Anderson, the special will feature performances from around the world.
Included in the long list of performers are artists who will collaborate for a gospel moment during the two-hour broadcast. Music producer Kirk Franklin, along with Fantasia, Jonathan McReynolds, Kelly Price, Tasha Cobbs, Le’Andria Johnson, and Melvin Crispell III will all lend their vocal talents for the special gospel segment.
The night will also be filled with other exclusive performances from artists like John Legend, Usher, Jhene Aiko, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Anthony Hamilton, Tyrese Gibson, Buju Banton, DJ D-Nice, SiR, and Charlie Wilson to name a few. Singer Alicia Keys will honor New York City with a special musical tribute that is sure to encourage audiences.
Additional celebrity guest appearances will include comedian Tiffany Haddish, singer Ciara, actor Don Cheadle, attorney Angela Rye, Dr. Rheeda Walker, radio personality Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Khaled and Chance The Rapper.
In an effort to expand the reach of the special BET will simulcast the show across BET and BET Her domestically, as well as their channels internationally bringing awareness to over 90 million homes. They will also join forces with Bounce to help expand the audience to include free, over-the-air broadcast viewers with Bounce.
In addition to focusing on domestic efforts, the S.O.S. special will have an international component. During a global check-in segment, they will look at how countries around the world are dealing with COVID-19. Young T and Bugsy, the British Hip Hop Artists behind the viral “Don’t Rush” social media challenge will make an appearance during that segment, along with other international celebrities.
The focus of the initiative is to address increasing evidence that COVID-19 impacts minority communities disproportionately. BET, in partnership with the NAACP, United Way Worldwide, leaders in the African American creative, civil rights and business communities will provide critical financial, educational and community support directly to the African Americans hardest hit by this crisis.
You can now donate to the fund online via BET.com or by texting BETGives to 51555. More information on BET’s partnership with UWW and additional extensions of our relief efforts are forthcoming. For further details, please visit BET.com/COVID19
The show will air at 8pm on Wednesday in America. Internationally, it will broadcast Saturday, April 25 in the UK at 9:00 pm BST, Korea at 9:00 pm KST, Africa at 6:00 pm CAT, and France at 10:30 pm CEST.
(Photo: Nathan Bolster/BET)