Traci Blackwell has stepped down as the head of BET scripted programming, a position she held since shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic came stateside, a spokesperson for the cable channel confirmed to TheWrap.
BET does not yet have a replacement named.
Blackwell led the development, casting and ongoing production elements for current scripted series on both the ViacomCBS cable channel and its streaming service, BET+. She was based in Los Angeles and reported to BET President Scott Mills.
In the newly created role, the CW alum also oversaw BET’s partnerships with Tyler Perry, Will Packer and Lena Waithe. Blackwell had been the senior vice president of current programming when she left The CW.
“I am proud of the impact we’ve made on our talent partners and thankful to have worked with some of the most inspiring creators and executives in our business,” Blackwell said in a statement to BET staff. ” I want to thank all of the many departments and their leaders across the BET house for your unyielding support of the scripted team and the culture to which we all serve with gratitude and honor.”
Mills added in a company-wide memo: “Traci has done fantastic work leading BET’s Scripted Programming Team during one of the most challenging periods in production history – the COVID-19 pandemic. … We have been tremendously fortunate to have had her leadership, and we are grateful that she leaves us very well positioned for the future.”
He noted that BET has “brought forth 14 scripted series in 2021 alone; including series from Tyler Perry, Will Packer, Tracy Oliver, Lena Waithe, Tracey Edmonds, Carl Weber and more. Never before has BET commissioned this many scripted series.”
Blackwell started her career at UPN, working on the production of sitcoms “The Parkers” and “Moesha.”
Deadline first reported the news of Blackwell’s exit.
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