Most Controversial Grammy Awards Moments in History: Macklemore, The Weeknd and More

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock (2)

Most Controversial Grammy Awards Moments in History: Macklemore, The Weeknd and More

What’s an awards season without a little controversy? The Grammy Awards are known to entertain viewers, but when it comes to showstopping — and head-turning — musical rifts, it’s had its fair share. From Bob Dylan’s 1998 performance – that was famously interrupted by New York-based artist Michael Portnoy — to “Blame It On The Rain” duo Milli Vanilli's award for Best New Artist in 1990, Us Weekly is looking back at the most contentious moments in history. Will Smith, for his part, expressed his frustration after the Recording Academy announced in 1989 that they were debuting a new category — Best Rap Performance — just to reveal it wasn’t going to be televised. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum opted to skip the awards show that year due to the decision. More recently, former recording academy president Neil Portnow came under fire for his controversial comments about women needing to “step up” during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. Many stars were quick to express their disdain — including Kelly Clarkson. “A confused soul said women need to ‘step up’ their A-game if they wanna start winning and you know what, I’m not even mad at ignorance,” the American Idol alum tweeted at the time. “I’m just gonna kindly point you in the direction of my A-game album I recently dropped.” [jwplayer hOuBklfT-zhNYySv2] In January 2021, The Weeknd shut down the concept of award shows when his critically acclaimed album After Hours did not receive a single Grammy nomination. “I use a sucker punch as an analogy. Because it just kind of hit me out of nowhere,” the musician told Billboard two months after the snub. “I definitely felt ... I felt things. I don’t know if it was sadness or anger. I think it was just confusion. I just wanted answers. Like, ‘What happened?’ We did everything right, I think.” At the time, the Canada native explained that it wasn't about him being “cocky” or “arrogant” for expecting a nomination, adding, “People told me I was going to get nominated. The world told me. Like, ‘This is it; this is your year.’ We were all very confused.” For The Weeknd, his snub was part of a much bigger issue within the entertainment industry. “Look, I personally don’t care anymore. I have three Grammys, which mean nothing to me now, obviously. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I want the Grammy!’ It’s just that this happened, and I’m down to get in front of the fire, as long as it never happens again," he noted. “In the last 61 years of the Grammys, only 10 Black artists have won Album of the Year. I don’t want to make this about me. That’s just a fact.” Recording Academy chair and interim president/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded to The Weeknd's headline making reaction, telling Rolling Stone in a statement, “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.” Scroll down for the most controversial moments from the Grammys over the years: [podcast_block]

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock (2)

Most Controversial Grammy Awards Moments in History: Macklemore, The Weeknd and More

What’s an awards season without a little controversy? The Grammy Awards are known to entertain viewers, but when it comes to showstopping — and head-turning — musical rifts, it’s had its fair share. From Bob Dylan’s 1998 performance – that was famously interrupted by New York-based artist Michael Portnoy — to “Blame It On The Rain” duo Milli Vanilli's award for Best New Artist in 1990, Us Weekly is looking back at the most contentious moments in history. Will Smith, for his part, expressed his frustration after the Recording Academy announced in 1989 that they were debuting a new category — Best Rap Performance — just to reveal it wasn’t going to be televised. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum opted to skip the awards show that year due to the decision. More recently, former recording academy president Neil Portnow came under fire for his controversial comments about women needing to “step up” during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. Many stars were quick to express their disdain — including Kelly Clarkson. “A confused soul said women need to ‘step up’ their A-game if they wanna start winning and you know what, I’m not even mad at ignorance,” the American Idol alum tweeted at the time. “I’m just gonna kindly point you in the direction of my A-game album I recently dropped.” [jwplayer hOuBklfT-zhNYySv2] In January 2021, The Weeknd shut down the concept of award shows when his critically acclaimed album After Hours did not receive a single Grammy nomination. “I use a sucker punch as an analogy. Because it just kind of hit me out of nowhere,” the musician told Billboard two months after the snub. “I definitely felt ... I felt things. I don’t know if it was sadness or anger. I think it was just confusion. I just wanted answers. Like, ‘What happened?’ We did everything right, I think.” At the time, the Canada native explained that it wasn't about him being “cocky” or “arrogant” for expecting a nomination, adding, “People told me I was going to get nominated. The world told me. Like, ‘This is it; this is your year.’ We were all very confused.” For The Weeknd, his snub was part of a much bigger issue within the entertainment industry. “Look, I personally don’t care anymore. I have three Grammys, which mean nothing to me now, obviously. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I want the Grammy!’ It’s just that this happened, and I’m down to get in front of the fire, as long as it never happens again," he noted. “In the last 61 years of the Grammys, only 10 Black artists have won Album of the Year. I don’t want to make this about me. That’s just a fact.” Recording Academy chair and interim president/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. responded to The Weeknd's headline making reaction, telling Rolling Stone in a statement, “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.” Scroll down for the most controversial moments from the Grammys over the years: [podcast_block]

Credit: Nbc/Stuffed Dog/Quincy Jones Ent/Kobal/Shutterstock

1989

After winning the Best Rap Artist category for his song "Parents Just Don’t Understand" with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Smith chose not to publicly accept the award because it wasn't televised.

“We ultimately ended up boycotting the actual ceremony because NARAS, the Grammy committee, refused to televise the presentation of the rap award,” the actor wrote in his memoir Will, which was released in November 2021. “We felt like that was a slap in the face. Rap music had outsold the industry that year. We deserved to be there.”

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1998

The awards show made headlines when Portnoy interrupted Dylan's performance in 1998. The performance artist removed his shirt to reveal the words "Soy Bomb" painted across his chest.

"It was such a perfect format to do something inscrutable. To inject some confusion into the mainframe," Portnoy told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. "It felt like I couldn’t get on that stage and not do something else. And at that point in my life, I was working as a comedian. It was almost like telling a joke with my body."

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1990

In 1990, Milli Vanilli was stripped of their Grammy after it was revealed that they were lip-synching during a performance on MTV.

“I knew right then and there, it was the beginning of the end for Milli Vanilli,” member Rob Pilatus told the Los Angeles Times in November 1990. “When my voice got stuck in the computer and it just kept repeating and repeating, I panicked. I just ran off the stage.″

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2014

Fans weren't thrilled when Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took home the Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song win over Kendrick Lamar.

"You got robbed. I wanted you to win. You should have," Macklemore wrote in a text to Lamar in 2014, which he later posted via Instagram: "It's weird and sucks that I robbed you. I was gonna say that during the speech. Then the music started playing during my speech, and I froze. Anyway, you know what it is. Congrats on this year and your music. Appreciate you as an artist and as a friend. Much love."

Although Drake wasn't impressed by Macklemore's response, Lamar later addressed the message.

"That text surprised me, but Macklemore is a genuine dude. However it panned out, I wish him much success. He touched people's souls, and no one can take that away," the "Humble" performer told Billboard in 2014. "Really, the whole Grammy moment was incredible. Not everyone gets that shot."

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2018

Portnow faced widespread backlash after he stated that women need to "step up” in order to be recognized at the Grammy Awards.

Shortly after his statement, Clarkson took to social media to defend her fellow female artists.

“Women in music don’t need to ‘step up’ — women have been stepping since the beginning of time,” she tweeted in 2018. “Stepping up, and also stepping aside women OWNED music this year. They’ve been KILLING IT. And every year before this. When we celebrate and honor that talent and accomplishments of women, and how much women STEP UP every year, against all odds, we show the next generation of women and girls and boys and men what it means to be equal, and what it looks like to be fair.”

Portnow later clarified that his “step up” comment was taken out of context.

“Our industry must recognize that women who dream of careers in music face barriers that men have never faced,” he told The New York Times at the time. “We must actively work to eliminate these barriers and encourage women to live their dreams and express their passion and creativity through music. We must welcome, mentor and empower them. Our community will be richer for it.

He added: “I regret that I wasn’t as articulate as I should have been in conveying this thought. I remain committed to doing everything I can to make our music community a better, safer and more representative place for everyone.”

Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock

2021

After being snubbed by the Grammys in November 2021, the “Blinding Lights” singer tweeted, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.”

The Weeknd joins a long roster of musicians who have previously voiced their concerns about the voting process.

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock (2)

2023

Ahead of announcing Album of the Year at the 2023 ceremony, host Trevor Noah made a joke at Joe Biden’s expense while Jill Biden was in attendance.

“Album of the Year is still coming up. Remember, nobody knows who’s going to win this thing because, unlike the U.S. government, the Grammys keeps its classified documents classified,” he quipped.