The Weeknd Plans To Boycott The Grammys Forever

Well, there it is! The very last time you’ll hear about The Weeknd getting snubbed by the Grammys because he announced that he refuses to even give them the chance to try it again. On Sunday, the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will happen, and The Weeknd won’t be a part of it, because his latest album, the critically-acclaimed After Hours, received zero nominations. The Weeknd accused the Recording Academy of corruption and demanded “transparency.” And now The Weeknd is taking that corruption and transparency allegation one step further by declaring he’ll never submit his work for Grammy consideration ever again.

Scarborough’s own Abel Tesfaye released a statement to The New York Times regarding his decision to pull his name from Grammys consideration for the foreseeable future. The Weeknd could have gotten very petty and shady with it, like mentioning the persistent internet rumor that the Recording Academy made him pick between an armload of Grammy nominations or headlining this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. He didn’t do that. Although, he did keep it nihilistic n’ mysterious by accusing the Recording Academy of allowing secret committees to choose the winners. via Pitchfork:

“Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.”

The Recording Academy hasn’t responded to The Weeknd’s announcement. But if they do, they might just reiterate what they previously said when he accused them of underhanded shenanigans back in November. Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy chief, explained that the voting body decides who gets nominated and that it’s a peer-voted award.

Calling out the Grammys today might not mean the same in the future. In 2019, Drake accepted the Grammy award for Best Rap Song while declaring that the Grammys don’t matter. Drake is nominated for three Grammy awards this year. But The Weeknd could hold firm, like Frank Ocean, who has removed several critically-acclaimed albums from Grammys consideration, after accusing the Grammys of being a big televised popularity contest. The last time he was nominated for a Grammy was in 2015, as a featured performer on Beyoncé’s Beyoncé album.

Personally, I could see The Weeknd sticking by his promise, but I do have to wonder what he plans on doing with the Grammy awards he’s already won. He didn’t mention those. Likely, he’ll keep them. And if he really wants to lean in hard to that 1980’s well-dressed annihilist aesthetic he loves so much, maybe he can use them to serve snacks or drugs at his next 3 am emotionally detached Hollywood Hills post-modern mansion. That cute gramophone horn is the perfect little bowl!

Pic: Wenn.com