'You deserved to be there': celebrities react to the Weeknd's Grammy snub
CBC Music | Posted: November 26, 2020 8:32 PM | Last Updated: November 26, 2020
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.
In 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
Elton John
Kid Cudi
Scooter Braun
Boi 1da
Tinashe
Sean Leon
Charlie Puth
Nicki Minaj
Akon and Sam Smith
La Mar Taylor (creative director of XO)
Wassim Slaiby (The Weeknd's manager)