Issa Rae was definitely a crowd favorite at BET’s American Black Film Festival Honors broadcast Wednesday night.
Not only was she recognized with the Rising Star Award for her stellar come-up from YouTube ingenue to Golden Globe Award nominee, but some members of the audience —specifically BET’s New Edition cast— took to calling her Issa “Bae.”
As she nervously took the stage to accept the award, the rambunctious cast can be heard calling out their new nickname.
“Stop that! Stop…before you get it!” she joked. “Stop!”
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Rae, who slayed the red carpet earlier in the evening, went on to thank all the people who have helped her get to this point in her career, making sure that the Internet and “Black Twitter” received a special mention.
“Beyond me, the internet has mostly been a safe place for us to express ourselves and create and learn and laugh,” she said. “It’s where Black Twitter lives, and thrives, and supports, and shades…”
She ended her speech on a positive note, reminding other young girls that they too can achieve the success she is currently enjoying:
“Lastly I just want people to know that if that girl can do it, I can definitely do it.”
Congrats Issa Bae!