BET Co-Founder Criticizes The Network For What It Has Become If you’ve ever watched BET in recent years and felt like things have changed for the worst since founder Bob Johnson retired from the company, you’re not alone. BET co-founder and ex-wife of Bob Johnson, Sheila Johnson says she is not happy with the way that things have gone at BET since and she and her ex-husband handed over the reigns back in 2005. via EurWeb Sheila Johnson, co-founder of the black network, gave BET a piece of her mind before, and she did it again, recently. She was the speaker at the “Conversations and Encounters” program at the Carmel Art and Film Festival in Monterey County, Calif. this weekend. She shared her story about the successes and life achievements both she and her husband built together over the years, expressing that she is most proud of BET’s Teen Summit, which ran from 1989 to 2002. But her moment of admitted accomplishments quickly turned to what appeared to be disappointment and built up anger; claiming that her product now ”reinforces negative stereotypes of young people, African Americans in particular.” And you know it didn’t end there. “I think we squandered a really important cable network, when it really could have been the voice of Black America. We’re losing our voice as a race as a result,” she ranted. “I’m really worried about what our young people are watching. There are so many young people who are using the television as a babysitter. We have parents who are not being parents and not monitoring what their children are watching.” Do you agree with Sheila? Read more at
