Cardi B begs fans to not bully BIA despite performing “Pretty & Petty” diss track at the BET Awards [VIDEO]
The rapper’s IG Live plea came moments after she dissed BIA on stage with her BET Award in hand
Cardi B hopped on Instagram Live after her BET Awards performance and urged fans not to bully BIA, despite just performing her diss track “Pretty & Petty” on stage. The 74-second clip, posted by HotNewHipHop, shows Cardi speaking directly to the camera with a viewer count climbing past 19,000 as she delivered a conflicting message about competition versus harassment.
The performance, which took place at the Peacock Theater on June 28, featured Cardi pulling out her BET Award while delivering the lyric “Do she even got a BET award?” aimed at BIA. Minutes later, she went live and asked fans directly to not pick on Bia. She explained that she’s been the victim of internet bullying and doesn’t want anyone else to go through it, not even one of her rivals.
A Superstar Asking Her Fans for Peace
The video shows Cardi seated indoors with long black hair and pink eyeshadow, speaking directly to the camera. The split-screen format includes a promotional still of Cardi in a black outfit with a large fur collar on one side while the live feed plays on the other. The Instagram Live interface shows her username, a pink “Live” badge, and viewer comments scrolling by.
Cardi’s delivery is measured and sincere as she explains her position: “I don’t want to be the reason why somebody gets on the Internet and has a bad day or gets depressed or feels bad or feels like the world is against them. Because I really went through that before.” She references her own experiences with intense online targeting by blogs and fans between 2018 and 2022.
She acknowledges the contradiction inherent in her position: “All these bhes, blogs was against me… I do like teaching bes a lesson… But after a while, I’ll kill you and then I feel bad that I killed you and buried you.” The comments reflect her struggle between wanting to defend herself and not wanting to contribute to someone else’s suffering.
The On-Stage Performance That Preceded the Plea
Cardi’s BET Awards performance featured a dramatic entrance atop a motorcycle with dancers and city-inspired visuals. She performed tracks from her album Am I The Drama?, including “ErrTime,” “Hello,” “Check Please,” and “Pretty & Petty.” During the latter, she pulled out her BET Award and delivered the lyric: “Do she even got a BET award?”
The line directly referenced BIA, with whom Cardi has been feuding since 2024. The performance amplified the diss track’s visibility and reignited fan engagement with the beef. The “Name 5 BIA songs” line, which Cardi had previously urged fans not to use to bully BIA, remained part of the live performance.
The timing of the IG Live immediately after the performance suggests Cardi was aware of the potential impact of her on-stage actions and sought to preemptively address fan behavior. However, critics have noted the inconsistency between performing the diss track and asking fans not to engage with its content.
Beef History: Cardi B vs. BIA
The feud between Cardi B and BIA originated from fan comparisons of the artists’ aesthetics, styles, and presentation. The tension escalated into subliminal shots, social media activity, and diss tracks. In 2024, BIA released the diss track “SUE MEEE?” directed at Cardi, addressing perceived slights or copying accusations.
Cardi responded last year with “Pretty & Petty,” a track on her sophomore album Am I The Drama? The song served as a direct clapback, with lines challenging BIA’s catalog and success metrics: “Name five BIA songs, gun pointed to your head. Bow, I’m dead” and “Do she even got a BET award?”
Cardi had previously urged fans not to bully BIA after performing the track on tour and delayed an official video release for the song in part to mitigate online harassment. She has also accused BIA of leveraging personal circumstances in the context of the beef, including references to pregnancy in earlier commentary.
Contradiction is at the Heart of Cardi’s Message
Cardi’s IG Live plea has highlighted the tension between her on-stage performance and her anti-bullying appeal. The conflict lies at the heart of her message: she wants to defend herself through her music while avoiding responsibility for how fans weaponize her words against her opponent.
Cardi has been in this position before. She previously urged fans not to bully BIA after performing the track on tour and delayed an official video release to mitigate the harassment. Yet the BET Awards performance brought the diss track back to the forefront, with Cardi visibly holding her own BET Award while delivering the line questioning BIA’s accolades.
The rapper appears aware of the contradiction. She stated, “If somebody don’t rock with me, I don’t want to keep messing with them, ’cause it gives bullying. And I’m really not a bully unless I have to.” She also acknowledged the line between teaching a lesson and going too far: “I do like teaching bes a lesson… But after a while, I’ll kill you and then I feel bad that I killed you and buried you.”
Cardi also stated she expects a physical confrontation if she ever encounters BIA in person: “If she ever see me, I know it’s gon’ be on sight. I know the b*h gon’ want to fight me… I’m with everything.” Her comments reflect the complex reality of rap beef, where musical competition often carries real-world consequences.
Cardi’s IG Live Plea Was Met with Rejection on X
Despite Cardi’s explanation, a number of viewers questioned the consistency of Cardi’s message given her performance choices. One of the highest-engaged replies, with 389 likes, read, “No shade but if somebody dissed me in a song and the song went viral and then tried to act like they got sympathy for me I’d feel even more embarrassed.”
Another user with 369 likes wrote, “Why her headlines never about her music? Oh wait,” while another commented, “But you still performed the song? No one was doing […] when you just had it on your album. But U SPOTLIGHTED IT….” The criticism centered on Cardi’s decision to amplify the diss track through performance while requesting restraint from fans.
Some replies defended Cardi. “This is maturity!” one user wrote, while another noted that she was attempting to draw a line between artistic competition and harassment. However, these voices were outnumbered by those who found the plea contradictory.
One reply referenced the tour rollout of the diss track: “Wasn’t she trying to make ‘Name 5 bia songs’ line on her tour a whole trend like BeyoncĂ©’s ‘Look around everybody on mute’ challenge.” The comment highlighted the extent to which Cardi had promoted the diss track before urging restraint.
The Ongoing Beef and Its Impact
As the 2026 BET Awards fade from the spotlight, the Cardi B-BIA feud continues to generate discussion. Cardi’s IG Live plea has become another chapter in the ongoing exchange, raising questions about the ethics of diss tracks and fan engagement.
For Cardi, the challenge lies in navigating the tension between artistic expression and the real-world impact of her words. Her acknowledgment of her own experiences with online targeting suggests genuine empathy, even as she continues to perform the diss track.
For BIA, the renewed attention on the beef has kept her name in circulation. Her team has not issued an official response to Cardi’s IG Live, but the ongoing discussion suggests the feud will continue to generate engagement on both sides. The situation reflects broader tensions in hip-hop, where competition is celebrated but its consequences can be difficult to control.