Teyana Taylor invited fans into her “escape room” at the 2025 BET Awards. The singer has officially ended her retirement with the television debut of “Long Time” and “Fire Girl.”
Her set was preceded by host Kevin Hart cosplaying as Usher — complete with a bowl of cherries and bright red fur coat. Kerry Washington stepped in to temporarily take over Hart’s hosting duties, and introduced Taylor while revealing, “It’s her first BET performance. She’s in a class of her own.”
Hart quipped, “If it’s her first performance, it sounds like we popping her cherry!” Taylor did perform as part of Usher’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award tribute.
Dripped in all red as bouquets of roses burned, the singer commanded our attention while she highlighted the fire within her. Taraji P. Henson came out as a surprise guest like an phoenix rising from the ashes. “It started as a spark and we fed it with promises. Eyes locked, ‘I do.’ Until one day, anger and rage, love shouldn’t burn everything it touches. So, I walked away from the wreckage. Not because I stopped loving you, no, but because I finally understood even love is something you must escape,” she spoke poetically.
Things took a futuristic turn as Taylor and her dancers turned into robots. Dancing mid-air, the Harlem native twirled, flexed, and overall shined while displaying her synchronized moves.
This is part of the lead-up to Escape Room, her visual album slated for release this August.
The cinematic component is described as “a visual representation of the album exploring the ombré effects of life’s journey from the darkness of all aspects of heartbreak (i.e. friendships, career, family, etc.) to the lightness of healing. This multi-faceted body of work traces the entire human experience delivering both a relatable and universal piece of art that audiences can make their own. ‘Escape Room‘ ultimately creates a safe space to break free from whatever we need to escape, leaving hurt behind, and reaching healing.”
Watch her full BET Awards performance above.
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