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Halsey slams The Grammys for having an “elusive” nomination process

Photo credit: Kevin Mazur - Getty Images
Photo credit: Kevin Mazur - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Halsey has taken to Instagram to call out The Grammys following the announcement last week of this year’s nominations. Among those in the running for music’s biggest awards are Beyoncé, with nine nominations, as well as Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa but there were some notable names left out including Halsey and The Weeknd, despite both artists releasing critically acclaimed albums this year.

Taking to Instagram, Halsey posted a lengthy message on her Stories, calling out the Recording Academy for their lack of transparency when selecting nominees.

“I've been thinking and wanted to choose my words carefully because a lot of people have extended sympathy and apology to me since the Grammy nominations,” the singer began.

“The Grammys are an elusive process. It can often be about behind the scenes private performances, knowing the right people, campaigning through the grapevine, with the right handshakes and ‘bribes’ that can be just ambiguous enough to pass as ‘not-bribes’. And if you get that far, it's about committing to exclusive TV performances and making sure you help the Academy make their millions in advertising on the night of the show.

“Perhaps sometimes it is (!!) but it's not always about the music or quality or culture”.

The 26-year-old went on to defend The Weeknd, who has called the nomination process “corrupt” after he was snubbed from the award’s nominee list. Both Elton John and Drake have publicly spoken in defence of The Weeknd too, with Drake saying The Grammys “may no longer matter”.

“@theweeknd deserves better, and Manic did too. Perhaps it's unbecoming of me to say so but I can't care anymore,” the singer wrote before concluding her statement by calling for change.

“While I am THRILLED for my talented friends who were recognised this year, I am hoping for more transparency and reform. But I'm sure this post will blacklist me anyway.”

The Recording Academy have not responded to her statement.

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