US EditionWale Says Kai Cenat BET Awards Snub Affected His Mental Health
Wale said the public backlash after Kai Cenat didn’t recognize him at the BET Awards caused him to isolate for days and raised mental health awareness, he told Club Shay Shay.
- Earlier this year at the 2025 BET Awards, Wale said streamer Kai Cenat appeared dismissive and that he was upset for five days afterward, discussing the impact on Club Shay Shay with host Shannon Sharpe.
- Wale crossed paths with Cenat at the awards and asked if he played video games, proposing they link up, then bumped into him again inside and said he made him look crazy.
- He retreated to his hotel for several days, processing the fallout as he felt uncomfortable when online users joked he 'pressed' Kai Cenat, prompting him to leave the event.
- Wale tied the exchange to wider mental-health talks, saying Cenat speaking about mental health later changed his view and urging dialogue between young creators and Hip-Hop OGs.
- The exchange revealed broader cultural friction as Wale, unsettled by younger streamer Cenat, sparked debate with online users saying he pressed someone nearly half his age.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Black America Web
The Stream About Nothing: Wale Admits Kai Cenat Affected His Mental For 5 Days
Source: Marcus Ingram / Getty Wale has never been known for letting things go unaddressed. Earlier this year, the Washington, D.C. rapper went viral for all the wrong reasons following an awkward moment at the BET Awards. Folarin crossed paths with one of the biggest streamers in the game, Kai Cenat, and the encounter was uncomfortable, to say the least. He asked the streamer if he played video games and suggested they link up sometime. Cenat ap…
Wale Says BET Awards Mix-Up With Kai Cenat Affected His Mental Health
Wale is revisiting the moment that turned into one of the most talked-about clips from this year’s BET Awards, his unexpected interaction with streamer Kai Cenat. What seemed like a light exchange quickly spiraled online after Cenat admitted on camera that he didn’t recognize the Grammy-nominated rapper. The fallout, Wale says, affected him more personally than viewers assumed. During an interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, Wale explai…
Wale Talks Mental Health While Recalling ‘Pressing’ Kai Cenat After Streamer Failed To Recognize Him: ‘I Was Upset For Like 5 Days, I Could’ve Handled It Differently, But I Wanted To Make It A Teachable Moment’
While speaking on mental health, Wale recalls being accused of “pressing” Kai Cenat when the streamer failed to recognize him at the 2025 BET Awards. RELATED: Wale’s Management Team Releases Statement After He Gets Linked To Wild Story That Alleged Diddy Hung Him Off A Balcony Over Cassie Earlier this year, BET hosted its annual awards show in Los Angeles, California. Kai not only attended the event, but livestreamed the ceremony on his Twitch c…
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