British singer Ella Mai gave her first-ever BET Awards performance last night, following the breakout success of her platinum single "Boo'd Up." Her single, which dropped in April, has been on the Billboard charts for 11 consecutive weeks and has over 34 million streams on Spotify.
Ella Mai is 23-years-old and London, England native. She's toured across the world with American singer Kehlani, and performed with Ty Dolla $ign in Los Angeles just two days ago. She was dubbed one of the hottest artists to watch after her single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
But, it seems like everyone had something to say about her performance at last night's BET Awards. Despite her breakout success, Ella Mai was assigned to the Nissan Stage, which is smaller and typically reserved for lesser-known artists.
Her performance was also cut short. Ella Mai was still singing her heart out when she was faded off the screen and replaced with commercials. Fans were appalled at the way she was treated and didn't waste any time venting about it on Twitter.
@djunique721_"I KNOW THEY DID NOT JUST CUT TO COMMERCIAL DURING ELLA MAI’S PERFORMANCE," one angry fan tweeted last night. "Y'all did Ella Mai so dirty," wrote another fan, "How u gone put her on the lil stage like booed up ain’t played 15 times a day."
To add insult to injury, Nicki Minaj got two massive stages for her performance, complete with a jaw-dropping set, backup dancers and crazy outfit changes.
Fans are putting the BET Awards on blast for "disrespecting" Ella Mai, saying she deserved much better - "#BETAwards did not put Ella Mai on that little ass Nissan stage! She has the biggest song out right now. Put some RESPECT on her name!!!"
Here's more of what Ella Mai's fans had to say:
Why they got Ella Mai on this Nissan stage #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/ixJDezso4t
Ella Mai has the biggest song in the world right now and y’all put her on the Nissan side stage....wow #BETAwards 😂
IK DAMN WELL they not putting Ella Mai the small stage #BETAwards
Ella Mai won tonight best performance and I’m mad she was not on the main stage 💕 #BetAwards 🏆
So this @BET hiphop awards ? How the fuck is @ellamai not on the Main stage #1 black record in the country 🤷🏾♂️
They played Ella Mai .. baby girl went platinum &’ they decide to put her on that tiny Nissan stage . #BetAwards pic.twitter.com/CC7Byk2FcM
If They Put H.E.R On Main Stage They Could Have Had ELLA MAI ON MAIN STAGE 🗣🗣 PERIOD #BETAwards
Did they just cut off Ella Mai's performance?? The audacity... #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/Xuh1VipmiS
Me calling the station after They gave Ella Mai the side stage where all the new performers perform at like BOO’D Up ain’t the song right now. #BetAwards pic.twitter.com/I8ES0WcY5a
Ella Mai got the biggest summer bop out right now and they got her background the Nissan logo 🙃 #BETAwards
Y’all put Ella Mai on the little stage?!?! She went platinum, she deserves to be on the big stage smh #BETAwards
Boo'd Up is played enough for Ella Mai to have been able to perform on the big stage. #BETAwards
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