“I’m not hosting if Kai can not come back” — Kevin Hart reveals he threatened to not host the BET Awards if the streamer wasn’t allowed to stream

Along with usual things like star power and hosting skill, the one thing that made Kevin Hart decide to come back to the BET Awards this year was that Twitch streamer Kai Cenat could stream the program live to his millions of fans. After the ceremony on June 9, Hart told Cenat in a behind-the-scenes webcast that he had promised to depart if BET didn't make an exception for the streamer.

Kevin Hart reveals he threatened to not host the BET Awards if Kai Cenat wasn’t allowed to stream

Kevin Hart hosted the 25th BET Awards for the first time since 2011. The show took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and aired on BET's cable networks on June 9, 2025. Before he gave his opening monologue, which made fun of Diddy's famous "slippery" moments after parties, the comedian had already made a non-negotiable deal with the network.

Kevin Hart declared he would not host the show if BET did not let Kai Cenat broadcast inside the event. He invited Cenat, the 23-year-old YouTuber and Twitch star with more than 17 million followers, to come see the action up close. On social media, an Instagram Reel was posted, which states Hart informed BET executives,

“I’m not hosting if Kai can not come back and stream it.”

The news of Hart's assertion was also ratified on the official X account of Dexterto. He reiterated his stance, leaning into the camera,

“Chad, I said I’m not hosting if Kai cannot dunk and stream. That’s W-Mans. Ain’t lying.”

BET was reportedly worried at first over union rules and broadcast rights. If a third-party streamer could freely access commercial breaks and acceptance speeches, ad income could go down, too, and exclusivity agreements could be broken.

However, Kevin Hart, who was playing to his ratings strengths, reportedly suggested that Cenat's attendance would draw in a younger, more tech-savvy audience, which is a great target for marketers. Hart's ultimatum on the air might affect red carpet events and award shows.

This move also shows how powerful broadcasters like Kai Cenat are growing. Cenat has lately expanded from generating gaming content to working with big names in music and fashion. He has been seen on red carpets and had special moments with renowned individuals. Top-tier events like the BET Awards want to have a live audience like his, which is why he got invited.

Kevin Hart not only got his old hosting job back, but he also pushed for a new era of media convergence by getting BET to let Kai Cenat's livestream happen. His ultimatum and BET's partnership prove that streaming platforms and traditional broadcasters can work together for the good of both, reaching more people.

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