By Aderinsola Adepoju
The 2024 BET Awards took place on Sunday at the Peacock Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, USA. Simmons was present at the event, which ran from Sunday night into Monday morning. She wore an emerald-gemmed dress and carried a crystal-embellished purse shaped like a handgun. On the red carpet, she was photographed pointing the gun-shaped purse at the camera. This fashion choice stirred controversy on social media, with critics accusing her of being “tone-deaf and insensitive,” especially considering the tragic loss of her ex-fiancé Sutton Tennyson to gun violence in 2018. On Monday, the 36-year-old reality star addressed the situation on Instagram, admitting that the purse’s symbolism was inappropriate and insensitive given her personal experience with gun violence. She apologized to those who were offended by her actions, expressing regret for the mistake and emphasizing her commitment to ending violence.