The upcoming BET Awards has sparked controversy as Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jonathan Majors find themselves included on the ballot amidst ongoing allegations and legal disputes. The first-round voting for nominations officially began earlier this week, and the presence of Combs and Majors has generated heated discussions within the entertainment industry.

Combs' album, "The Love Album: Off the Grid," has been nominated for Album of the Year, while the track "Closer to God" featuring Teyana Taylor is in contention for Best Collaboration. Additionally, his guest appearance on Metro Boomin's popular hit "Creepin" has earned a nomination for the prestigious Video of the Year award.

Majors, on the other hand, is vying for the Best Actor award alongside a hundred other performers. To be considered, actors must have appeared in either a movie or TV show that premiered between March 16, 2023, and March 15, 2024. Majors' recent credits include his roles in "Creed III," which was released on March 3, 2023, and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," released on February 17, 2023.

One of Majors' notable performances in the critically acclaimed film "Magazine Dreams," where he portrayed amateur bodybuilder Killian Maddox, had garnered great anticipation after its premiere at Sundance last year. However, the film was unexpectedly removed from the release schedule by Searchlight Pictures in October, and subsequently dropped in January. This decision came shortly after Majors faced legal repercussions, ultimately being convicted of assault and harassment.

The representatives for BET, Combs, and Majors have not responded to requests for comments at this time regarding their inclusion on the ballot amidst their respective controversies.

It is worth noting that the eligibility period for music albums, songs, and music videos aligns with that of films. As a result, Diddy's album, "The Love Album," qualifies for consideration, having been released on September 15, 2023. The album may not have achieved significant commercial success, but it earned critical acclaim with notable collaborations featuring popular artists such as Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, John Legend, and Mary J. Blige. It even led to Diddy's first lead Grammy nomination in 20 years, although he ultimately lost to SZA's "SOS" in the Best Progressive R&B Album category.

Unfortunately, Diddy's moment of celebration was short-lived. Soon after receiving the Grammy nomination, the singer Cassie filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of subjecting her to years of sexual and physical violence. However, the couple reached a settlement two days later. Despite this, additional lawsuits emerged, alleging rape and sexual assault against Diddy. He has vehemently denied all of these allegations. In response, Diddy's representative informed The Hollywood Reporter that he would decline the invitation to attend the Grammys.

The BET Awards allow artists and actors to be submitted for consideration through various channels, including record labels, studios, managers, and representatives. Certain categories, such as Best Movie, Best Actor, and Best Actress, even permit voting members to write-in contenders during the first-round voting, which will conclude on May 7.

As the controversy surrounding both Combs and Majors continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how their inclusion on the BET Awards ballot will be received by the public and industry insiders alike.