LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Hart kicked off the 2025 BET Awards with a flurry of jokes on Monday, poking fun at everything from celebrity names to slippery afterparties.

“There won’t be any afterparties tonight. Things could get slippery,” he quipped, referencing baby oil that’s been frequently mentioned in the criminal case against Diddy. Hart set the tone for a night full of humor and on a night honoring the awards show’s 25th anniversary.

The comedian also joked about the pronunciation of GloRilla and Snoop Dogg’s real names, drawing laughs from the crowd before turning sincere.

Hart paid tribute to Jamie Foxx and teased gospel star Kirk Franklin, who — along with Snoop and Mariah Carey — was honored with the Ultimate Icon Award for his contributions to entertainment, community work, and advocacy.

“When you get your award tonight, don’t come up here front twerking,” Hart said, as the crowd erupted in laughter. The jab was a nod to Franklin’s viral moment when he playfully twerked on gospel legend Jacky Clark Chisholm during a live performance.

Singer Amerie and rapper Jim Jones were the first performers of the show.

The BET Awards is bringing major star power with Kendrick Lamar who leads the pack with 10 nominations, including album of the year for his critically acclaimed project “GNX.” His ubiquitous diss track “Not Like Us,” emanating from the Drake feud, received nominations for video of the year and viewer’s choice award.