'You deserved to be there': celebrities react to the Weeknd's Grammy snub
Scooter Braun, Drake, Elton John and more are expressing their disappointment online
The 2021 Grammy Award nominations were revealed earlier this week, and while many Canadians were recognized, one prominent artist was omitted.
The Weeknd, whose single "Blinding Lights" was one of the biggest singles of 2020 (from his equally successful album After Hours), was projected to rake in a number of nods including record and song of the year. Instead, he received zero nominations.
Collaboratively planning a performance for weeks to not being invited? In my opinion zero nominations = you’re not invited!
—@theweekndIn the days since, the Toronto R&B singer has spoken out, calling the Grammys "corrupt" and asking for transparency. He also insinuated that the lack of nominations meant that he got uninvited from the upcoming ceremony.
In response, Grammy Awards' interim chief, Harvey Mason Jr., released a statement arguing that "all of the records get the fairest of fair shakes.... The people in that room care: there's no agendas in there, there's no 'let's snub this person' or that person. It's about, 'Let's try and find excellence.'"
The Weeknd isn't the only artist expressing their disappointment in the Grammys and its nominations. Here is a roundup of artists and music industry insiders speaking out on this growing controversy.
Editor's note: explicit language below.
Drake
Drake support Abel on his Instagram stories. <a href="https://t.co/SwqajBNdJZ">pic.twitter.com/SwqajBNdJZ</a>
—@NewsWeekndElton John
Kid Cudi
Abel was robbed man this shits weak
—@KidCudiScooter Braun
I agree. Congrats to all the nominees but <a href="https://twitter.com/theweeknd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theweeknd</a> and Sal you deserved to be there as well and deserved better. Brilliant artist and brilliant album. <a href="https://t.co/bVCcIRBMb5">https://t.co/bVCcIRBMb5</a>
—@scooterbraunBoi 1da
After Hours criminally robbed
—@Boi1daTinashe
🗑 🗑 🗑 🗑
—@TinasheSean Leon
After Hours is Thriller level idc what anyone says Abel the King of Pop now.
—@seanleonCharlie Puth
How the fuck did blinding lights not get nominated lol
—@charlieputhNicki Minaj
Never forget the Grammys didn’t give me my best new artist award when I had 7 songs simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade- went on to inspire a generation. They gave it to the white man Bon Iver. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PinkFriday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PinkFriday</a>
—@NICKIMINAJAkon and Sam Smith
Akon & Sam Smith show their support for <a href="https://twitter.com/theweeknd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theweeknd</a> regarding the Grammy situation. <a href="https://t.co/Nk55maGqHP">pic.twitter.com/Nk55maGqHP</a>
—@NewsWeekndLa Mar Taylor (creative director of XO)
Wassim Slaiby (The Weeknd's manager)