Award-winning American singer, Bruno Mars, was privileged to present the prestigious Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 20, 2018.
The multi-instrumentalist who showered encomium on the Jackson family and Janet went on his knees and bowed to present the award to the surprise of the audience.
This makes Janet Jackson the first black woman to receive the Billboard Icon Award in recognition of her long career.
The apparently excited Bruno said while presenting the award,
“The name ‘Jackson’ represents artistic genius and iconic performance.
“The Jacksons are music royalty and the first family of entertainment…She is an activist… She’s a humanitarian. She’s a powerful woman. And she is the first black woman to receive the Billboard Icon Award.”
The happy looking Janet thanked the audience and made reference to the #MeToo movement. She said
“I’m deeply humbled and grateful for this award. I believe that for all the challenges, for all our challenges we live in a glorious moment in history.’
“I believe that for all the challenges, for all our challenges, we live at a glorious moment in history,” she said. “It’s a moment where at long last, women have made it clear that we will no longer be controlled, manipulated or abused.
“I stand with those women and with those men equally outraged by discrimination who support us in heart and mind.”
Janet Jackson has now joined Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, and Cher on the list of Icon recipients.
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