What’s an awards season and not using a little controversy? The Grammy Awards are recognized to entertain viewers, however with regards to showstopping — and head-turning — musical rifts, it’s had its fair proportion.
From Bob Dylan’s 1998 efficiency – that was famously interrupted by New York-based artist Michael Portnoy — to “Blame It On The Rain” duo Milli Vanilli’s award for Finest New Artist in 1990, Us Weekly is trying again on the most contentious moments in historical past.
Will Smith, for his half, expressed his frustration after the Recording Academy introduced in 1989 that they have been debuting a brand new class — Finest Rap Efficiency — simply to disclose it wasn’t going to be televised. The Contemporary Prince of Bel-Air alum opted to skip the awards present that 12 months because of the determination.
Extra not too long ago, former recording academy president Neil Portnow got here underneath hearth for his controversial feedback about ladies needing to “step up” through the sixtieth Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. Many stars have been fast to precise their disdain — together with Kelly Clarkson.
“A confused soul stated ladies have to ‘step up’ their A-game in the event that they wanna begin successful and you recognize what, I’m not even mad at ignorance,” the American Idol alum tweeted on the time. “I’m simply gonna kindly level you within the route of my A-game album I not too long ago dropped.”
In January 2021, The Weeknd shut down the idea of award reveals when his critically acclaimed album After Hours didn’t obtain a single Grammy nomination.
“I take advantage of a sucker punch as an analogy. As a result of it simply type of hit me out of nowhere,” the musician instructed Billboard two months after the snub. “I positively felt … I felt issues. I don’t know if it was disappointment or anger. I believe it was simply confusion. I simply needed solutions. Like, ‘What occurred?’ We did the whole lot proper, I believe.”
On the time, the Canada native defined that it wasn’t about him being “cocky” or “boastful” for anticipating a nomination, including, “Folks instructed me I used to be going to get nominated. The world instructed me. Like, ‘That is it; that is your 12 months.’ We have been all very confused.”
For The Weeknd, his snub was a part of a a lot greater subject inside the leisure business.
“Look, I personally don’t care anymore. I’ve three Grammys, which imply nothing to me now, clearly. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I need the Grammy!’ It’s simply that this occurred, and I’m right down to get in entrance of the hearth, so long as it by no means occurs once more,” he famous. “Within the final 61 years of the Grammys, solely 10 Black artists have gained Album of the Yr. I don’t need to make this about me. That’s only a truth.”
Recording Academy chair and interim president/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded to The Weeknd’s headline making response, telling Rolling Stone in an announcement, “I used to be stunned and may empathize with what he’s feeling. His music this 12 months was wonderful, and his contributions to the music group and broader world are worthy of everybody’s admiration.”
Scroll down for essentially the most controversial moments from the Grammys through the years:
