Debra Lee Talks About Banning Artists’ Videos & All The Craziness At BET!



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Recently, Debra, who has been with the network for 26 years, spoke with FOX Business Network’s Gerri Willis and revealed that BET has made long strides in improving and getting more strict about what they allow to air. The shift in programming has caused them to deny videos from major money-making artists such as Kanye West, Rihanna, and Ciara

On the Criticism of Degrading Women

“I think the criticism has gone away. The first thing I did, which was in the works anyway, was to create more original programming that shows different images of women. So our sitcoms have started doing that. We’ve got more documentaries. We’re going to get into the drama business. We’ve cut back on the amount of music videos, that’s how we grew up but now we’re in a position where we can do other kinds programming.”

On Becoming More Selective With Programming

“We’ve gotten more strict on what we allow on air. We used to live by broadcast standards, but as the hip hop industry got a little more risqué we had actually had to bring that back some and say just because it can be on the air doesn’t mean it has to be on the air.”

On Declining to Air Certain Artist’s Music Videos

“As we worked on our brand and where I wanted to take the network, I started to say no to a lot of artists. I said no to Kanye [West] and to Ciara. Those are the ones that come to mind. I think Rihanna we’ve been working with. And that’s sort of amazed me a little bit, that I had to say no to women, but someone had to be the grownup in the room. I didn’t ask for that job but someone had to say no and looking at it from our young audience’s perspective.”

Read more:   Necole Bitchie




2 responses to “Debra Lee Talks About Banning Artists’ Videos & All The Craziness At BET!”

  1. keith says:

    they needs to put DEE-1 and more KRSONE on there

  2. Trey says:

    BS SHE TAKES OF CIARA VIDEO FOR WHAT…..NOTHING DURING THE TIME WHEN HER VIDEO WAS TAKIN OFF TREY SONGZ VIDEO WAS ON THE 106 & PARK COUNT DOWN DAMN NEAR SOFT PORN AND THATS TAKIN OFF ITS FUNNY 2 ME THAT ITS ONLY CERTAIN SINGERS THAT GET TAKIN OFF….SO MUCH FOR LOOKIN OUT FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS IF THATS THE CASE PULL EVERYTHING OFF DONT JUST PICK THREW AND TAKE PPL’S VIDEOS OFF

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