BET Awards accidentally pays tribute to Willie Brown Jr., very much alive former mayor of San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr. gave us his first response, living and breathing, since being mistakenly included in the "In Memoriam" tribute during Sunday night's BET Awards show.

He is alive and well.

Joining us live on Getting Answers: Live at 3 p.m., the former mayor said he was first told by his niece that he had been declared dead, because she saw the earlier East Coast broadcast from her home in Washington D.C. Brown had a thought pop into his head immediately.

"Wait a minute, why don't I make sure that every creditor that I owe money to gets the message that I've gone," said former Mayor Brown. "All my debts will be over! Over!"

BET producers were attempting to instead honor the late NFL hall of fame cornerback, Willie Brown. The former Oakland Raider was a five-time All-Pro selection and a member of the all-decade team of the 1970's. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

By the time the mistake was corrected for the West Coast broadcast, Brown says he had received about 40 texts and calls from worried friends around the country.

"BET did call me," said former Mayor Brown, who served as mayor from 1996 to 2004. "In all candor, I must tell you the first thing I said to them was, 'Don't terminate the person who made that mistake.' I said Willie Brown is a very common name. I know at least 6 other people whose names are Willie Brown."

The former mayor then used some light humor to pay his own respects to the late Brown, who died last year.

"This Willie Brown they were talking about is number 24 of the Oakland Raiders, one of the greatest interceptions ever was in that (1977) Super Bowl, and I am taking credit for that day in and day out. So it's ok if I have to take credit for his death."

RELATED: Legendary Oakland Raider Willie Brown has died

Click the video above to watch the full interview with Brown, who also gave his takes on President Trump's administration today, and if he thinks California Senator Kamala Harris is a lock to become Joe Biden's Vice President nominee.

You can join the daily conversation and stream Getting Answers: Live at 3 p.m. by clicking here.