Lenny Kravitz Reveals He’s Never Felt “Celebrated” by Black Media & Has Never “Been Invited To the BET Awards”

With multiple GRAMMYs, a trove of Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hits, over 40 million records sold worldwide, and an enduring, nearly 40-year career in music, Lenny Kravitz stands as one of the most successful Black acts in Rock history.

Despite his many accomplishments, however, the ‘Fly Away’ performer feels a way about not getting his due in the media – particularly from publications and organizations that highlight the success of artists of color.

Taking to the latest edition of ‘Esquire,’ Kravitz not only weighed in on the circumstance but revealed some surprising facts.

When not turning heads in designer dudes like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Balenciaga, the 59-year-old sex symbol was dropping jaws with commentary about his love life, new album ‘Blue Electric Light’ (his first in 5 years), and more.

A standout comment came courtesy of the discussion about Lenny’s relationship (or lack thereof) with Black media.

“To this day, I have not been invited to a BET thing or a Source Awards thing,” he shared with ‘Esquire.’ “And it’s like, here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers—just like those that came before me broke down. That is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it?”

And while the ‘Dig In’ hitmaker didn’t dig into his theories about why he thinks Black media doesn’t embrace him, it’s arguable his absence from the R&B and Hip-Hop arena is to blame.

Nevertheless, the lack of recognition left him admittedly puzzled given the history-making strides he’s made in Rock music.

“[What I’ve done] is not celebrated by the folks who run those publications or organizations. I have been that dream and example of what a Black artist can do,” he relayed.

All-in-all, the 4x GRAMMY winner isn’t too fussed about being omitte and overlooked.

“I’m not here for the accolades,” he said. “I’m here for the experience.”

Click here to read the full interview.

[photo sources: Norman Jean Roy for ‘Esquire’]