Wedding of Daughter of BET Founders Bob and Sheila Johnson Stirs Some Social Media Controversy
Newlyweds Dudley Payne III and Paige Johnson
Photo credit: Matt Blum
Earlier this week, the Reliable Source column in the Washington Post reported on the wedding of Paige Johnson and Dudley Payne III. According to the Washington Post, their courtship and engagement stayed under the radar because the two have been so busy with other pursuits. Johnson, 27, who walked the aisle in a Monique Lhullier gown, has been a competitive equestrian rider since she was 5, training in Virginia and Florida, and traveling to competitions around the world. Payne, 30, has an insurance brokerage business but his real passion is golf; he competes at serious amateur tournaments almost every weekend.
Some controversy was stirred with the following comment attributed to Payne’s father BET Co-Founder Bob Johnson. Johnson was quoted as saying, “This guy is the perfect guy for Paige.” In another quote Johnson said, “He’s a true gentleman.” Before proposing last year, Payne took the old-fashioned step of inviting his fiance’s billionaire father to Café Milano to ask for his only daughter’s hand in marriage.
Author Christelyn Karazin wrote an interesting article titled “BET Heiress Marries a Rainbeau! Just Goes to Show Rich Folks Want Ratchet For Eveyone Else EXCEPT Their Own” posted on the website Beyond Black & White.com.
In her article Karazin wrote, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m THRILLED for Paige. I just wish that EVERY little black girl was cherished and protected and married off to a “perfect guy for her,” not just the daughters of rich men who are responsible for advocated a lifestyle that grants the exact opposite to “ordinary” black girls.”
Karazin further wrote: “This is the ultimate irony. Bob Johnson, co-founder of BET, a vehicle that has single-handedly tarnished the name of black American women all over the world, wants a “gentleman” for his daughter. Funny, because he’s made his fortune convincing black women that thugs, drug dealers, and gold teeth should be the standard of sexiness and allure for us mere-mortal regular black chicks.
You can read all of Christelyn Karazin’s article by clicking here.
What do you think? Do you care?
Black Men In America 
May 9, 2013 at 10:26, am
BET has lays been filthy,owned by an Uncle Tom like Obama who only mingles with high class Blacks
May 9, 2013 at 10:54, am
Why should we even care what they say or what their families do.. If we weren’t so interested in watching our females shaking their over sized butts in the first place, Mr. Johnson wouldn’t have made all that money… I stopped looking at BET when they introduced that nonsense, followed by the “ghetto fabulous” gospel shows, and those stupid “Black Exploitation” movies from the 60’s and 70’s.. Black folk are easy markets.. If enough of us bite, someone is liable to make some money off of us.. So don’t get mad at Mr. Johnson, because he was able to get his daughter hooked to what he believes is the perfect man….Oh, by the way, I’m about as “Po” as a church mouse, but I’m proud to say, that my daughter married what I would consider almost the perfect fellow… And he traveled almost 1000 miles to ask me for my daughter’s hand in marriage over 8 years ago…
July 18, 2013 at 7:26, am
Thanks for sharing this unforgettable moment, one lucky girl has the right to be happy no matter what controversies they are facing along the way. The photograph tells it all that she’s happy. Congratulations to them from Adelaide finger food..
October 29, 2013 at 3:14, pm
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January 27, 2014 at 7:35, pm
No matter what controversy this couple faces along the way, they do have the rights to get married as long as they are happy and love each other. LOVE CONQUERS all, i guess. Hoping this couple will stand strong together, even in their ups and downs. Best wishes and god bless from us here birthday catering Adelaide ..
August 16, 2017 at 12:23, pm
Ha ha ha Black girl Marries White Guy and daughter of owner of BET of all things. I know a Black girl and she refuses to date black guys. I am white and have dated 2 black girls this past year and both said they don’t date black guys. All three said the same reason for not dating black guys. They cheat, lie and beat their women.
That came straight from the mouth of three black women who by the way do not know each other. Wow, there is a lot to say about that.
I guess the women are not digging on your gold grill or your pants hanging off your ass and wearing your hip hop thug wear or metro sexual outfits. Thanks Bro’s, your making it easy to date hot black girls.
October 20, 2018 at 11:38, am
Not only that, the black guy writing this article doesn’t know what he is doing…he says BET founder’s son, “Payne’s father, BET cofounder, Bob Johmson”…Payne is the future groom idiot, Bob will be Payne’s FATHER IN LAW. Big Dummy