The Weeknd‘s colossal shut out from the nominations at the 2021 GRAMMYs sent ripples through the music industry.
A dominant force this year, thanks to album ‘After Hours’ and hits such as ‘Blinding Lights,’ many anticipated Abel would be a surefire nominee in all of the major categories and then some.
And yet, quite the opposite came to be.
It’s ignited ample discourse, ranging from those who argue that commercial success shouldn’t automatically translate to to GRAMMY noms to those who feel his omission is farcical.
Aligning with the latter, the star himself weighed-in and branded the GRAMMYs “corrupt.” He expressed said sentiments amidst reports that there were issues surrounding a planned performance on the Jan 31 show and the Super Bowl a week later.
Now, GRAMMY Chief Harvey Mason Jr. has responded.
His words below…
“Congratulations to today’s Grammy nominees, who have earned their peers’ recognition for their incredible work. There were a record number of submissions in this unusual and competitive year.
We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated. I was surprised and can empathize with what he’s feeling. His music this year was excellent, and his contributions to the music community and broader world are worthy of everyone’s admiration. We were thrilled when we found out he would be performing at the upcoming Super Bowl and we would have loved to have him also perform on the Grammy stage the weekend before.
Unfortunately, every year, there are fewer nominations than the number of deserving artists. But as the only peer-voted music award, we will continue to recognize and celebrate excellence in music while shining a light on the many amazing artists that make up our global community. To be clear, voting in all categories ended well before The Weeknd’s performance at the Super Bowl was announced, so in no way could it have affected the nomination process.
All Grammy nominees are recognized by the voting body for their excellence and we congratulate them all.”
With that, what are…
I think The Weeknd is overrated. I truly think his career is pushed by payola (in my opinion). He’s very forgettable and he’s got a nasty attitude. So if this is true that he was being difficult well, he did it to himself. When you do clownery. And maybe stop walking around with the bruised face and bandages thinking it’s a display of artistry….it’s not. And nobody is looking forward to your super bowl performance Abel. You’re never winning a Grammy after this
TGJ didn’t add the part about The Weeknd being difficult to negotiate but TMZ did
WAP, you are exactly what you name means, a Wet A@# PU$$?, he has more talent and artistry, than that payola fav.
STFU! Witchy ashy puss💅🏿💅🏿💅🏿 Don’t mess with my king Weeknd. He’s the new usher, Bruno Mars Or maybe The next MJ💁🏿♀️💁🏿♀️💁🏿♀️ Let him shine bish
Speaking like a phoney white man
“To be clear, voting in all categories ended well before The Weeknd’s performance at the Super Bowl was announced,”
Bullshìt
U guys have insiders
U know before hand when an artist is about to do something huge like perform at the superbowl before its announced
I got nothing from his statement. It’s the most passively aggressively ‘Im sorry we screwed up… let’s move on’ I have ever read.
The Scammys will never be seen in the same light after this scandal.
It doesnt matter if you dont like The Weeknd or feel he deserved to be the most nominated.
The facts are just plan obvious that it is egregious to not give him a SINGLE nomination for one of the biggest pop smashes of all time.
But you nominate Yummy and Changes by Justin Bieber instead?!!!! 😲🤮
2020 continuing taking Ls going 20-0. 🤒🤭
Beyonce has become the token black girl to the Grammys
9 nominations
I have never heard that black parade song ever.
Nominating beyonce in the rap category, she is not a rapper
If she wins best rap song or best rap collaboration for savage remix , this will be a huge joke and slap on the faces of real rappers
Shut the f*** up plenty of songs they where not commercially successful have been nominated. It’s not some new phenomenon with Beyoncé. With all the s*** that comes out of your mouth it’s a wonder your ass hole works at all. Do you remember the album by beck that won AOTY In 2015 or the guy that won over Nicki minaj over best new artist, That cuntmilla is done out here nobody cAres about her 600 million streams on one song. She is flop the industry have decided worry about if she will ever release a third album not Grammy wards she will never have. C***!!
They YOU BETTER, YOU FU(K!NG BETTER‼️
BUll. Kanye exposed that fraudulent b**** & how she is in bed with the Grammy committee, and folks called him crazy. There’s no way that h0 gets 8, 9 nominations every time she released an album, especially when they flop. her music is not that great, period. shes definitely the Grammys token black, the Grammys been corrupt like that for YEARS.
Oh yeah let’s the take the word of a mentally deranged narcissist who admittedly doesn’t take his meds and suffers from prolonged manic episodes. Kanye also said his a billionaire, he can help Taylor swift get her masters back and that slavery was a choice. When Matthew knowels was on the Grammy community for one year in 2011 Beyoncé didn’t win any Grammys. Beyoncé has also been snubbed for Grammys that she deserved for two albums in a row. The current lawsuit against the Grammys is because of their bias and racist tactics. Token black 😂😂 is that a new word you just learnt? The Grammys are corrupt now your favs aren’t being nominated. But when your favs are kii kii and getting nominated or winning yall cheesing from ear to ear. Chile even 2020 is a Beyoncé Stan. She always has the last laugh. Whist you comfort yourself for the failures of your fav with ShE iS tHe ToKeN bLaCk. We love to see it. See you January 31st we all know everyone will be tuning in to watch Beyoncé giving them the highest ratings proving once again the power and relevancy of her name.
You’re also mad at Beyoncé a black woman whom the former Grammy president Deborah Dugan specifically stated in her lawsuit Beyoncé was shut out of the big awards due to misogyny, racism etc… I got receipts boo. Justin Biebs is who took your fav nomination slots. Take it up with him instead of black woman who minds her own business and continues to succeed despite you nay says.
They did not nominate him because they have to make sure Beyonce get the Petty Award that the dumb Shithives thinks she deserves..They knew if they nominated him/the weekend beyonce would not stand a chance…Politics .
Another idiot talking out their ass because they are jealous of a successful black woman. It’s Taylor swift and Justin Bieber that took his nomination slots “ they didn’t want to put him in pop categories and the rnb didn’t want to put him in rnb categories”. What’s that got to do with Beyoncé? What pop records did Beyoncé release that would block his nominations? One thing in common y’all have is when it comes to Beyoncé your irrational hate and delusion exposes LOW IQ
This response offers nothing to address the concern raised. Every year is arguably “competitive”, yet the voting board consistently makes room for certain artists and their music regardless of the talent pool. The Grammys should have a tangible way to measure the strength and quality of the music they vote for in order to avoid bias, and that’s the transparency The Weeknd is asking for, naturally.
But note his reference to the words “Peer Voted” he is saying we have decided what excellence looks like and you will deal. He has a point, there is no law that compels them give transparency – it is and always will a closed members only club – and everyone can choose to accept that fact or not – but either choice don’t change a thang. 🤷🏾♂️
This was his year. His album was critically acclaimed. He broke so many records this year and for him not even being recognized…it’s pure politics.
I see why Drake, Eminem and many other artists boycott the Grammys. When more major artists get together and boycott them, they will slowly fade out and begin to lose credibility. F*** the Grammys.
When did Harvey become Grammy Chief? That man is responsible for the soundtrack to my youth – hits for decades!
I thought the Weeknd’s album was boring and forgettable. Not a patch on Starboy.
The Weekend is a crybaby lol .. get over it your boring ass singer