Teyana Taylor Arrives at the BET Awards 2026 in a Sculptural Gown That Has Fans Divided — Photos

Teyana Taylor's sculptural gown at the 2026 BET Awards drew sharply divided reactions, with one striking design detail becoming the center of the conversation.

Teyana Taylor arrived at the 2026 BET Awards, held June 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, in a sculptural burgundy gown that immediately drew attention.

As full-length photos of the Icon of the Year honoree circulated online, one design detail quickly became the focus of the conversation.

As reported by WWD, Taylor's red carpet look came from Stéphane Rolland's Spring 2026 Haute Couture collection.

The burgundy gown featured a fitted bodice with a rectangular crystal-embellished panel at the neckline before opening into a voluminous skirt.

According to the designer's official Spring Haute Couture collection, the design emphasized dramatic volume through gathered fabric, rounded folds, bubble hems, and a subtle train.

Taylor finished the look with a coordinating headpiece, sleek center-parted hair, and minimal gold jewelry, keeping the focus on the gown's architectural design.

As photos from the Peacock Theater spread across social media, the bold silhouette quickly divided opinion. Some viewers admired Taylor's embrace of couture fashion, while others questioned whether the dramatic design suited the BET Awards red carpet.

Social Media Split over Taylor’s Sculptural Gown

On Instagram, one user wrote, "always the best dressed. ❤️" Another praised her styling, commenting, "Her wig is how it should be done😍😍😍."

Others focused on whether the dramatic silhouette fit the occasion. One Instagram commenter wrote, "Lol yall be lying... this a flop & that's okay [sic]!!" Another joked, "This is not the Met ...... but okay 😂."

A third added, "Umm... wrong awards show my girl," while another wrote, "Love this🥰 would have been even more fly if she wore her short hair with this headpiece."

On Facebook, much of the conversation centered on the skirt's oversized construction. One user asked, "So how or where do you sit? 🤷‍♀️" Another quipped, "Guess she'll be standing throughout," while a third compared the design to a "Burgandy Cabbage [sic]?"

The conversation surrounding "One Battle After Another" star's red carpet appearance continued after the cameras moved inside the Peacock Theater. While fans debated her arrival look online, the evening also celebrated the achievements that earned her one of the ceremony's highest honors.

Teyana Taylor Accepts the Icon of the Year Award

Taylor later returned to the stage in a flowing blue gown to accept the BET Awards' Icon of the Year Award. The outfit change shifted the focus from her headline-making arrival to a celebration of her work across music, film, fashion, and directing.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, music icon Janet Jackson presented the award and praised Taylor's creativity, determination, and work ethic.

She reflected on watching Taylor "defy expectations, rewrite the rules and lead with an unstoppable work ethic," while also recognizing her accomplishments in music, acting, and directing, as well as her role as a mother.

Taylor became emotional as Jackson introduced her and embraced the music icon after taking the stage. She began her speech by thanking Jackson, calling her "my biggest inspiration."

"I love you so much. Thank you for always seeing me," Taylor said. She also thanked Jackson for "every text, every hug, every talk."

She added, "Everybody who knows me know how I feel about you, the fact that you even took up the time to be here to celebrate with me, this is crazy. I love you so much. Like, you don't even understand."

Reflecting on the honor, Taylor admitted she had questioned whether she should feel comfortable accepting the title of Icon of the Year.

She said she had spent 20 years working tirelessly to earn the honor and was accepting the recognition "with gratitude," not arrogance.

Taylor also spoke about supporting others throughout her career, saying she never believed one person's success should come at someone else's expense.

"If I know something, I should teach it. If I open the door, I should hold it. If I have a platform, I should make room for another voice," she said.

She ended her speech by thanking her parents and dedicating the award to her daughters, Junie and Rue. "If one day people remember me as an icon," Taylor said, "I pray the two of you always remember me simply as home."

Months before taking the BET Awards stage, she was already making headlines throughout awards season, from celebrating her first Academy Award nomination to drawing widespread attention for her reaction during the Oscars ceremony.

During the announcement of the Best Supporting Actress winner at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, cameras briefly turned to the nominees seated in the audience. Among them was Taylor — and her response to the result would soon appear in a viral video circulating online.

But for Teyana, the emotional night was only the latest chapter in an already remarkable awards season.

A Dream Realized

Before Oscars night arrived, Teyana — who shares daughters Rue Rose and Iman "Junie" Tayla Shumpert Jr. with her ex-husband, former NBA player Iman Shumpert — had already reached a deeply personal milestone: her first Academy Award nomination, a moment she shared in a video posted on Instagram on January 23.

The clip showed Taylor watching the broadcast with close companions, their eyes glued to the screen.

Seated on a couch inside a high-rise building with a bright blue sky visible through the windows, the room erupted when Taylor's name appeared — loved ones screamed alongside the actress, leapt off the couch, and hugged as the news sank in.

Later in the video, Taylor called her mother, laughing as she tried to calm down from the excitement. Another moment showed the group pausing to pray together, reflecting on how meaningful the achievement was.

In the caption, Teyana wrote, "OMGGGG!!!! This lil harlem girl had a big dream & now she is an @theacademy Award nominee!!!!!!" She added that she felt deeply humbled and grateful for everyone who supported her journey.

She also reflected on the challenges she faced along the way, writing that her career had been filled with "battles, doubts, and moments of deep uncertainty."

Soon, that dream would lead her to the biggest stage in Hollywood.

The Competition on Hollywood's Biggest Night

At the 98th Academy Awards, Teyana was up against a strong lineup in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Her fellow nominees included Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for "Sentimental Value," Wunmi Mosaku for "Sinners," and Amy Madigan for her performance in "Weapons."

As tradition goes, the previous year's winner, Zoe Saldaña, took the stage to announce the result while a video of the nominees appeared on screen.

When Zoe revealed Amy's name inside the Dolby Theatre, cameras cut to the nominees seated in the audience — and one reaction quickly caught viewers' attention.

Instead of disappointment, Teyana appeared genuinely thrilled, jumping up from her seat as the audience applauded the winner. Other camera angles from the broadcast show her continuing to cheer and smile.

Viewers React to the Viral Moment

As the clip spread online, netizens quickly filled the comments with praise for Teyana's reaction.

On Instagram, one user wrote, "Look at teyana taylor [sic]!! She is a doll!! Love her reaction. Congrats!" Another commented, "Amy is so stinking cute I'm so happy she won and Teyana Taylor is definitely a girls girl [sic]."

A third fan added, "Teyana taylor [sic] is such a hype woman!!! So proud of her and all she did this season." Others focused on Amy, with one viewer writing simply, "Sooooooo deserving!"

Similar reactions appeared on Facebook, where one commenter wrote, "Man, I'm very happy that she won, been a long time coming. But I really wanted Teyana to win!"

Another highlighted Teyana's reaction, "The other winner here is Teyana Taylor... did you see the way she jumped and cheered for her?? That was so sweet love women who celebrate other women's wins."

But while the Oscars result sparked conversation online, Teyana had already experienced a major victory earlier in the awards season.

Her Memorable Win

Earlier in the year, Teyana triumphed at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for "One Battle After Another."

Taking the stage at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on January 11, Teyana delivered an emotional — and memorable — acceptance speech.

At one point, she jokingly turned around to reveal her bedazzled underwear and laughed, "Wait, see my party in the back." She also thanked her parents and the loved ones she described as her "tribe," calling them her grounding force.

Teyana Taylor also praised the film's director, Paul Thomas Anderson, thanking him for his vision and support.

Toward the end of the speech, she addressed young women watching the ceremony.

"Our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine," she said. "We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter and our dreams deserve space."