The Weeknd calls the Grammys ‘corrupt’ after nominations snub

The Weeknd has accused the Grammys of being “corrupt” after being snubbed for the 2020 awards despite a stellar year.

Following the release of his hit album After Hours and the ubiquitous single Blinding Lights, which broke the record for the longest-running top five hit in US chart history, the Canadian star was predicted to feature in at least one or two categories.

However, the 30-year-old failed to pick up a single nomination for the awards, for which Beyonce is the frontrunner after being shortlisted in nine categories, including song and album of the year.

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“The Grammys remain corrupt,” The Weeknd tweeted after the nominations were announced. “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…”

According to Rolling Stone, a “source close to the situation” alleges the snub follows weeks of discussions about the star possibly performing at the ceremony in January and a “struggle” over him also playing the Super Bowl.

The criticism comes less than a year after the Recording Academy’s ousted chief executive accused the group that determines nominations in the top categories of having conflicts of interest and not engaging in a transparent selection process.

Harvey Mason Jr, interim president and chief executive, released a statement following The Weeknd’s post explaining that “unfortunately, every year, there are fewer nominations than the number of deserving artists”.

He said: “We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated. I was surprised and can empathise with what he’s feeling.”

The Weeknd was not the only star criticising the awards following the shortlist announcement on Tuesday – rapper Nicki Minaj also posted a tweet about being snubbed back in 2012.

She said she failed to receive the best new artist award after having seven songs “simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade”.

And while Justin Bieber said he was “flattered” to have been included among the 2021 nominations, he questioned his inclusion in the pop category – saying his album, Changes, was “not being acknowledged as an R&B album which is very strange to me”.

Other nominees include British star Dua Lipa, who is up for album and song of the year for Future Nostalgia and Don’t Start Now respectively, as well as Taylor Swift, Roddy Ricch and Coldplay.

This year’s Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka was also shortlisted for his self-titled album.

He tweeted: “I’m so proud and over the moon to say that my album Kiwanuka has been nominated for a Grammy!!!!!

“I can’t believe it. So excited that I could pop. My mind is well and truly blown!!!”

Here are all the Grammy nominees for main categories: