You heard it here first—the 2025 BET Awards are gonna have plenty of Hart.
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart will be hosting the 25th edition of Culture’s Biggest Night, set to premiere live from Los Angeles on June 9 at 8 p.m. ET. And the Jumanji star is taking his involvement in the BET Awards to the next level by headlining an all-new spot produced by his eponymous Hartbeat media company.
The minute-long promo—which was written by Rashida Olayiwola and directed by Michael Daniel and Lachlan McClellan—features Hart preparing for his own big night by revisiting some of 2024’s most notable moments in Black culture, including Rihanna’s taste in soccer mom snacks and Jennifer Hudson’s extremely viral spirit tunnel.
For the record, that’s his second time traversing that particular passageway, as Hart previously glided through the spirit tunnel and onto the set of Hudson’s daytime chat show in March. And yes, those are the same spirited Team Hudson faces you see in your TikTok and Instagram feeds serenading the likes of Brenda Song and Michelle Obama.
“BET has been an amazing longtime partner, and I’m proud to extend that partnership with this new creative spot my company Hartbeat concepted and produced,” Hart tells ADWEEK exclusively.
“The BET Awards is the ultimate celebration of Black culture, so you know we had to come through with an announcement video that really captures the vibe—with laughs, energy, and a few surprises,” he adds.
The spot looks to bring its own spin to the awards show.
“With this new spot, we set out to create something more cinematic than a traditional ad,” echoes Janina Lundy, Hartbeat’s evp of marketing and brand partnerships. “We’re bringing to life the vibrant energy and cultural resonance of the BET Awards with Hartbeat’s signature comedic voice.”
