Former BET CEO Debra Lee Sees Hope In The Digital Era, Citing Issa Rae And Keke Palmer As Examples Of What’s Possible
Debra Lee sees great opportunity in the digital landscape.
The former CEO of BET acknowledged during a conversation held at AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 that it’s hurtful to see Black programming under attack. In the past two years, various shows rooted in the culture were cut, such as “61st Street,” “South Side,” and “Sweet Life: Los Angeles,” and in June, it was announced that CBS and NBC were canceling a number of Black-led shows, including “Poppa’s House,” according to the Nubian Message.
“It’s very hurtful to see the progress we’ve made in Black programming and programming targeted to the Black community, but also programming we hope all people will watch,” Lee told AFROTECH™ in an interview. “It’s very hurtful to see that under attack. And I think it’s really necessary in our society for groups to understand each other.”
She explained, “I think the numbers show that there’s an audience for it. When you look at the movie ‘Sinners’ or you look at the show that was on Netflix, ‘Forever,’ you see that this type of programming is really popular. Both of those, the movie and the TV series, had ratings through the roof. So there is still a demand for diverse programming, and I hope everyone will continue to produce it.”
Lee’s reflections come from a deeply personal place. Growing up in the segregated South, she recalls how rare it was to see even one show a week that reflected the beauty of the Black community, though she would often watch “Soul Train” on Saturdays.
“It was a dance show and a music show and I love that, and it really inspired me to want to be in this business,” she explained.
Now, Lee feels encouraged by the rise of digital storytelling that is carving out new lanes to tell stories. She gives flowers to Issa Rae, who got her start by launching web series “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,” which paved the way for landing on HBO with the show “Insecure,” and also Keke Palmer, who launched KeyTV, a digital network for creators of color, in 2022.
It’s proof that Black storytelling can continue to grow and find opportunity.
“Digital has made it possible for independent producers to have their own platform, like what Keke is doing. I really admire what she’s doing,” Lee expressed. “Issa Rae got her start on a digital platform. And so that’s great. And I think there’ll still be more opportunities like that. Streaming presents those opportunities and, as I said, other digital platforms.”
Lee continued, “I think in terms of the established networks and streaming platforms, the audience has to keep demanding this kind of programming. It’s up to the executives at those platforms to really make sure it happens, not to be focused on just one subset of an audience.”
She stresses that supporting Black creativity requires showing up —whether at theaters, through programming, or at events like the AFROTECH™ Conference.
“It’s so exciting to walk around AFROTECH™ and see all these Black people here that are in businesses or starting businesses,” she explained. “So doing conferences like this, supporting each other, would be my call to action. And to get Black programming, we have to show up. The opening weekend of movies, when shows come on Netflix or Warner Brothers, HBO, whatever, we have to support them. We can’t expect people to do things for us.”
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