The Weeknd Says He’ll Boycott Grammys, Recording Academy Responds

Just days before Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, The Weeknd said he plans to boycott the show after he was shut out of this year’s nominations.

Despite winning three Grammys in the past, the “Blinding Lights” singer told the New York Times he believes the awards are rigged.

“Because of the secret committees,” The Weeknd said Thursday in a statement to the Times, “I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.”

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Harvey Mason, Jr., the Recording Academy’s chair and interim president/CEO, issued a statement in response, telling the Times, “We’re all disappointed when anyone is upset. But I will say that we are constantly evolving. And this year, as in past years, we are going to take a hard look at how to improve our awards process, including the nomination review committees.”

Back in November, The Weeknd called the Grammys “corrupt” when he failed to pick up a single nomination. The Canadian singer, real name Abel Tesfaye, is not alone in his criticism of the Recording Academy.

Justin Bieber, who’s nominated for four awards including best pop vocal album, is expected to skip the show because he’s not performing. The decision came after he criticized the Recording Academy in November for classifying his album “Changes” as pop instead of R&B.

“I am flattered to be acknowledged and appreciated for my artistry. I am very meticulous and intentional about my music. With that being said, I set out to make an R&B album,” he shared when the nominations were announced. “‘Changes’ was and is an R&B album. It is not being acknowledged as an R&B album, which is very strange to me.”