The 2015 Grammys are three days in our rearview, yet headlines are still dominated with debate on Beck, Beyonce, and, of course, the controversial statements of Kanye West.
As reported here, after the ‘Heartless’ hitmaker suggested that Beck, winner of 2015 Grammy ‘Album of the Year,’ “respect artistry” and relinquish his award to Bey, he’s been on the receiving end of unceremonious slam from fans and fellow artists (see: Shirley Manson, Michael McDonald, KISS, Nikki Six, and more).
Coming to the rescue of his former mentor and longtime collaborator, Grammy winner John Legend took to US Weekly to defend West from the onslaught of criticism. But, after his quote found him on the receiving end as well, the ‘Green Light’ singer took to Instagram to clear up the confusion.
Did you miss it? We got you covered:
Earlier this week, Legend took to US Weekly to say:
“I thought it was funny.” “I looked at it as just a funny thing that people were going to talk about.”
“It didn’t hurt anybody,” the “All of Me” singer, 36, continued. “Anybody who’s upset just needs to relax. It was funny. Beck is super talented and I have several of his albums and I’ve listened to him for a long time. I think people were surprised that he won but that doesn’t mean he’s not deserving…”
After earning a mini-backlash for downplaying the incident, Legend took to Instagram to clarify his statements:
“I want to clarify my thoughts on Kanye’s actions at the Grammys on Sunday. First of all, Kanye is my friend. He believed in me years ago when very few did, and I wouldn’t be here without his support. That doesn’t mean we’ll agree on everything, but it does mean that I am grateful to him. And I also believe he is one of the most gifted people I’ve had the privilege of working with.
In my comments to US Weekly, I said that when Kanye walked up on stage, mimicking his interruption of Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech, then turned around as if he was just playing, most of the room including me saw this as funny, as a way of taking the piss out of himself for his infamous behavior several years ago.
When I said that was funny and people should lighten up about it, that’s what I meant. I wasn’t referring to Kanye’s comments after the show which I have now seen and heard. I disagree with those comments. Beck is indeed a true artist’s artist. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, a creative and unique singer-songwriter whose music I have bought and enjoyed over the years. While his win may have been a surprise to many, it’s not because he’s not a great artist deserving of recognition. All of the other nominated artists, including Beyonce, are incredible in their own right, and arguments could be made for any of them deserving to win. This is not an objective process. It’s completely subjective, in fact. We can all debate who we thought should have won. But even if you didn’t vote for him, plenty of our colleagues in the music business did. These voters are all creators who love music and have dedicated their lives to it, and the plurality of them chose Beck as the Album of the Year. I respect their decision and congratulate Beck on this outstanding accomplishment.”
OKayyy John Legend you could have kept that to yourself !
Exactly, a man with no back bone, what a turn off, and when is he going to come out.
Right like why would you agree to Beck winning that award!! Who the f*** is Beck? They could have given it to Beyonce or Ed sheeran… At least we know who they are.. the grammys are frauds and kanye was speaking facts !!!!
so I guessing your the brandy stan and monica stan that comments once in a while so now your an Aaliyah stan lmaooooo you’re a troll
Y his punk ass back paddle!! Kissing ass! u r a grown man! Dude could have kept it to himself!
@SippingmyTea
You sound completely demented. They could have given the award to someone popular? Oh so popularity wins Grammys? If that’s the case Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber and the like need to win Grammys too! You sound as ignorant as Christopher Columbus saying he discovered America. Just because YOU never heard of Beck doesn’t mean the rest of world hasn’t. Beck was just as popular in the 90’s as Missy Elliott. Further more not all popular music is good music.
Thank u! These people are ignorant as hell
Shut up f**
LOL THE BUG’S NEST NEEDS TO JUST SIT DOWN, STFU AND CHANGE THEIR DIAPERS ALREADY. JAY Z’S HOOKER IS NOT GOD, AND THE GRAMMYS JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT OFFICIALLY. SHE’S BOUGHT ENOUGH GRAMMYS, SO GET OVER IT LOL.
No one said she was god but fair is fair.. You heard about Beyonce’s album more than you heard about Beck sheeshh i ain’t even know Beck had an album out !! Or even Ed Sheeran… !! Fair is fair !! whether your a beyonce fan or not this is facts!! The grammy’s need to stop playing and be fair !!
What the hell does that have to do with winning a Grammy? Obviously they thought his album was more quality than the others.
But its not about whose album we heard about the most..its all about artistry when it comes to the grammys..artistrty..how much the artist contributed to his project.Waut for the billboards if you wantbBeyonce to win based on how many people heard about her album ok.
What Beck’s ?? ki ki !! The delusion !!
@sippingmytea The Grammys isn’t about who made the most impact or who sold the most, it’s about the quality of the music. And truth me told, Beck won for a reason. You faggotts have not even heard Beck’s album to even judge it, so pipe the f**** down and accept that her album wasn’t perfect and there was another album that happened to be more prestigious than hers.
You sound a little more pressed than me boo boo.. Where’s Britney?!
What does Britney even have to do with this? See, that’s why I enjoyed seeing you faggotts seethe at Beyonce losing. I’m actually being real and your dumb asss welfare ugly ass stays being an ignorant ass c***. You’re SO pressed that she lost, no excuse that you say will ever be taken seriously. Faggott
Kiki your mad lmaooo !!!
aw is that your way to cover up me clocking you? You know i’m right and i left you speechless! And it’s you’re** bitchh, learn how to spell!
B****** be real tough behind computers but don’t know I am crazy in real life !! 😉 You could never leave me speechless boo !! You had a few words you spelled wrong in your long ass essay as well.. you really going hard for what reason suck a d*** !!
you’re crazy in real life? Lol i’m scared! Bitchh i’ll beat your ass off and online! But anywho, get educated. And if you thought I misspelled something, it’s probably because you can’t read
Okay Billy Ray Cyrus !!
What people don’t seem to get is that Kanye does this to create controversy and get attention he doesn’t care who won he does everything for a publicity stunt. Even his marriage was a publicity stunt,with that being said Beck deserved that award he plays instrument, he writes all his songs, and the lyrics of his songs are honest and real Beyonce only sings and and dance just because she pulled a surprise album and she changed the game doesn’t mean she’s gonna earn album of the year what kinda of mentality is that.
Many people came out with surprise albums sweetie no one said all of that.. However… Controversy or not Who the f*** is Beck?!! And why did they win AOTY !! kiki yall kill me with the delusion!!
Gawd?! How old are you 12?! I bet you never heard of the Spice Girls either? Anybody familiar with 90’s pop culture knows who Beck is! Period. As I have said he was just as popular as Missy Elliott in the 90’s
Nirvana, Foo fighters ,Stone temple pilots, The black Crowes… Pearl Jam yes boo boo i know them all now shut the f*** up and let others have their opinion… !!!
Are people still talking about this? Move the F*** on! I’m so not phased, and neither is the HIVE anymore.
—
*Currently getting my life to Beyonce and ed Sheeran’s Stevie Wonder tribute last night* 😀 What a true incredible performer. That’s the Bey I know. Turn up! And she was the Highlight.. of course like alwways.
exactly the hive n the queen forgot all about this damn award show the moment it ended…..but that Stevie wonder tribute performance……#BOWDOWN
no one cares what you’re doing BITCCH!!
Usually I ignore childish dumbasses in my reply box. But I gotta ask this. Why is your fat ass in my reply section again?? Just curious
you’re phased as f**** bitchh, your fave lost, get over it and get a life you ugly loser
Metzo well said thanks
Yes I agree with him!
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzz
–
People are just going to dragggg this story out!
I was just like John Legend.. i thought Kanye was joking, but then I rewinded it and saw the look on his face and I realized that he wasn’t joking, something in his face that told me he was serious. But then, I saw the commentary after the show and i knew i was right! Kanye is an ass hole and he’s a huge hypocrite when he told Beck that he needs to respect Beyonce’s artistry. First of all, it’s not Beck’s fault that he won, second, Beck is a multi-instrumentalist and actually writes his songs and is a great singer. If anything, his artistry is more prestigious than Beyonce. Beyonce sings, I’ll give her that, but what artistry does she provide fhat can touch Beck’s? Half of her album was written and produced by other people. The artistry on that album belongs to people she worked with. Kanye needs to stop acting like a child, oh well if Beyonce lost! Same with the BeyHive, chill the f**** down! Legends like Madonna, Janet, & Mariah never won AOTY and they are still legends. Ugh this is why I hate gays, they know nothing about the music inustry
Exactly and thats sad that Legends like Madonna, Janet , and Mariah never won!! These legends have changed the game and thats not something to sweep under rug thats an issue !!
So you made no point with your long ass essay !! Either way i am over it but like i said she deserved that award.
a grammy doesnt define legacy. Don’t let a Grammy validate the greatness of a work of art, a grammy isn’t s***. And if they don’t like losing all the time, then these black folks need to take their asses to the Soul Train Awards & BET. Kanye claims this is oppression, yet he feels too “big” to attend those awards and constantly ass licks the Grammys, when BET & STA is where they honor these black artists the most. Open your mind, you seem ignorant
Kiki far from it and your clearly so dumb if you don’t need a grammy to validate greatness then why would you say “Beck is a multi-instrumentalist and actually writes his songs and is a great singer. If anything, his artistry is more prestigious than Beyonce. Beyonce sings, I’ll give her that, but what artistry does she provide fhat can touch Beck’s? Half of her album was written and produced by other people.” ki ki so you trying to say Beck has more artistry and that’s why he won a grammy.. whose the ignorant one again?? #ByeFelicia i am done !!
she has a 20% chance of winning you idiot, there can’t be 2 winners and just because one won, doesn’t mean the rest isn’t great. Like i said, you’re ignorant and don’t know shitt about the music industry: Please, get educated and get your ugly ass out of the internet *waits for you to claim i’m mad*
I never said there could only be two winners you have a comprehension problem i am done going back and forth … Bye
Boo boo :-* ki ki
Everyone thought it was funny when he walked on stage. Lots of people thought Beyonce had Album of the Year in the bag. so when he won and Kanye pulled that stunt it was hilarious
John Legend sounds like a weak ass n*****. Has no opinions for himself and just ass licking Kanye so Kanye won’t ruin his career. If you’re going to make an ass kissing statement, just stfu. John, you’re the next Robin Thicke, a one hit wonder and then vanish into the pits of irrelevancy
Thank you!!!!! I couldn’t have said it better! A weak whiny aśś n*****! And his music hasn’t been the same since his 1st album anyway.
Why is everyone tellong the Hive to get over it?YOU get over it And stop trying to throw shade when your fave has like one grammy or can’t win without rappers. I don’t see the Hive ranting anymore they went on that one dragginh spree and finished! Its done. Out faves a 20 time grammy winner, what about yours?
Dragging*
Nobody in the HIVE is even talking about that incident anymore.. especially after the slayage that was last night’s’s Stevie Wonder tribute, that only reminded us of how incredibly talented Beyonce is. #Unbothered
—
He can keep that 1 Grammy tbh. We still got the best female entertainer in the music industry.
but the hive is the most pressed. They are the ones who made “Who Is Beck” T-shirts and made it trend on Twitter. Yall mad!!
Yes we were the most pressed. But it only lasted one night we are over it now get the f*** out of here
ooh so disrespectful! Is you mad? lolol
@BritneyRayCarey
No b****, we’re mad that you keep coming in here trying to use Trailer Park Trash dialect.
@Tyler i live in a house that’s 5x bigger than the dump you live in. Most BeyHive members are broke
20 Grammy purchaser***
Fixed for you.
@omg So why didn’t she just purchase AOTY? Logic is not your thing. Ironic.
When Kanye walked on the stage I was crying laughter. And everyones reaction was even funnier. But his rant was totally stupid and uncalled for. He should’ve just left it at the joke because now he looks like d***** bag AGAIN and did Bey no favors doing that. Congrats Beck he seems like a great artist and nice guy.
In a way i’m happy that all this controversy happened, especially to an artist like Beyoncé, who people talk about like shes Prince or Lennon, this is a reminder that she’s not as talented as most of you think she is, i been saying it for years now, since i came across to this site that she is an amazing singer and performer but she knows little about music, to put it simply, she’s not a musician, she is a talented vocalist and showgirl but she has no talent musically speaking, there’s nothing wrong with that because her voice and performing skills compensates her lack of musicianship. What i’m trying to say is that based on musicianship Beyoncé did not deserved the AOTY, you might not like Beck’s music but that guy is a musical genius, he plays like 14 instruments, has written and produced all his albums and is a great performer aswell, his diversity as a musician is mind blowing, like it or not the Grammys did the right thing finally, it’s about the music not about sales, hits or popularity, i understand that Pop fans love way too much their Queens, i stand myself for a few ones but i know that these often underrated, unknown artists, (usually males) are 1000 times superior to them musically, move on, accept the fact that the most talented artist won, what the Beyhive did to Beck is one of the most cruelest things i seen in Mainstream music, y’all should apolopize to him in a open letter, hate me for it, i just have to say it.
I just read your 1st sentence and you lost me even further @ “She doesnt know anything about music”. What a Joke. Google Beyonce using her voice as multiple instruments (Including Trumpet, Guitar, Piano…) Obviously, you know little of Bey’s musical capabilities.
BYE DUMB BLONDE!
Stfu, when you Stan for artist like Madonna and Rihanna, your opinion on talent, is IRRELEVANT, keep it moving you dumb f**.
There is nothing wrong with Madonna or Rihanna lol they great too ! 🙂
Freedom of speech… Have you heard of it? LOL. Everyone has the right to post their opinions. The funny thing about those aforementioned names is that they their more successful. Rihanna outsells Beyonce and as for Madonna… well… Beyonce is light years away from reaching her level. 😆
Rihanna outsells Beyonce? No she does not. Their last album sales beg to differ.
Exactly @s******. Exactly.
Beyonce lost AOTY. GET. OVER. IT. And listen to “Morning Phase” while you’re at it. I’m kinda loving the folk or alternative music. “Blackbird Chain” is nice. 🙂
Im starting to think this was a publicity stunt on GRAMMYs part
I”ve said this! I believe they were trying to be unpredictable and create controversy. I mean they have to draw viewers in order to keep airing every year.
Beck himself said he thought Beyonce was gonna win. It was fishy asf. But it is what it is, and we should all just move on.
—
In the words of Beyonce herself: “it doesn’t matter how good you are, reality is sometimes you lose” “You’re never too good to fail”.
Hmm… NO! This has happened many times at teh grammys, and AOTY is ususally the most unpredictable category. They have done this tons of times and for a good reason.
The Grammys redeemed themselves by proving that it not about popularity. Some of the categories winner or most tbh, they showed that, but they honestly did redeem themselves. Beck’s on his twelfth album and it tuns out, it is one of the lowest selling albums. Most critics, music journalists, and pop culture experts – the ones with a broader taste in music – know that he deserved it. The Fleahive can continue to cling to race or whatever fills their lustful empty voids to make themselves feel better.
I’m black btw, both parents, so don’t even try me or call it self-hate or whatever to ease your conscious. 🙂
why does everyone on TGJ hate me? lmao i’m so iconic
QUEEN!!! ♛ 😆
we’re the most hated on here boo. Slay at our slayage!
Hi Ratchet #1 and Rathcet #2!
you’re a trailer trash who wants everyone to be in your caliber. Go back to the trailer park bitchh
Freedom of speech… Have you heard of it? LOL. Everyone has the right to post their opinions. The funny thing about those aforementioned names is that they their more successful. Rihanna outsells Beyonce and as for Madonna… well… Beyonce is light years away from reaching her level. 😆
Why are Beyoncé stans so pressed? The best man won. Stick to the R&B categories.
I have never respected him not been a fan of his since his dumb ass comments about Michael Jackson back in 2009. This lubed up bottom needs to have several.
Please stop telling the Hive to “GET OVER IT” when y’all are the one’s still talking about it trying to use it as shade like seriously. Beyonce won 3 other GRAMMYS what about your fave?
@BritneyRayCarey
No b****, we’re mad that you keep coming up in here trying to use Trailer Park Trash dialect.
F*** Him
Why do people keep talking about artistry. Adele sings she did not play an instrument and you all was like great choice now its beyonce you all are like well she doesn’t play an instrument.. Alicia Keys played piano and they didn’t nominate or let her win album of the year so please stop saying he played an instrument
Exactly!
Stupid comment. Beck playing those many instruments is one of the reasons he is so talented and deserves such award. Doesn´t mean it has to happen always. There are great albums from “just” singers who are that good that won AOTY like Whitney or Celine Dion (well except for when Taylor Swift won that award, appalling). Adele was a good choice, it´s all about who you are competing with. And Adele´s album pretty much saved the industry. Plus her music is way more classy than Beyonce´s 🙂
That said, what the grammys choose is just one more opinion, it´s not the absolute truth, although it is the most relevant opinion in the business obviously. Just be glad Beyonce has as many (in secondary categories of course) when she is not comparable musically to sooooo many artists who have way less grammys. She was very lucky.
The award is not for how many instruments you play. No ones denying his artistry but theres double standards when it comes to Beyonce.
Also 21 was boring. 19 was much better and most adele fans agree.
This topic is getting old now. I’m a HUGE Beyonce fan and have been for over 10 years. Self-titled is her most realized body of work to date and I was rooting for her to win AOTY. When she lost, I was crushed but I owned up to my ignorance because I did not know who Beck was and refrained from engaging in dragging him for winning the award because I hadn’t even listened to his album. I did some research and turns out he’s been at it a long time and his work was well-received. I’m sorry but what Kanye did was trash and he deserves to be dragged for it. How would any of you feel if you were receiving the biggest award of your career and some douchebag comes in, steals your moment and overshadows your accomplishment. John Legend needs to sit and I’m so over all of this because it’s done nothing but make people question Bey’s artistic abilities all while bullying an innocent man who won an award for his hard work.
We definitely need to move on.
Beyonce got robbed.
First and foremost Beck has been on music scene for twenty years now. He is an incredible artist, and has huge amounts of talent. Beck’s album was a huge release last year. Maybe some people should learn to broaden their music catalog and not just focus on what the general public listens to. Beck totally deserved to win the Grammy. I do love, and enjoy Beyoncé, but musically she is not even in the same league as many other artists. Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying here. Again I will state on the record that Beyoncé is amazing, but the music industry and the people who vote within the Grammy’s decided that this years album is in fact Beck. So move on, and quit throwing around negativity.