Grammy Awards: A timeline of controversies

The Grammy Awards have long been a stage for celebrating musical excellence, but year after year, they also find themselves at the center of major controversies. The 2025 edition was no different, with Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s red carpet scandal, Zakir Hussain’s omission from the ‘In Memoriam’ tribute, and heated political speeches making more headlines than the awards themselves. Here’s a look back at the biggest Grammy controversies over the years.

2025 – Kanye West & Bianca Censori’s Shocking Appearance Sparks Debate

Bianca Censori’s revealing outfit at the 2025 Grammys ignited controversy over decency laws and appropriateness on the red carpet.
Reports suggested that West and Censori arrived uninvited, with some sources claiming they were escorted out by security. Social media exploded, with fans divided between defending fashion freedom and accusing them of seeking attention.

Zakir Hussain Snubbed in ‘In Memoriam’ Tribute

Tabla legend Zakir Hussain, who passed away in December 2024, was not included in the Grammy’s tribute to deceased artists, sparking outrage among fans and musicians. The omission fueled accusations of racial and cultural bias, reigniting debates about the Grammys’ treatment of non-Western music icons.

Beyoncé’s Best Country Album Win Sparks Debate

Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter, but the decision divided country music fans. Critics claimed the win diminished traditional country artists, while others saw it as a necessary step toward inclusivity.

A Look Back: The Most Controversial Grammy Moments in History

1990 – Milli Vanilli’s Award Revoked

The duo Milli Vanilli won Best New Artist, only for it to be revealed that they never actually sang on their own recordings. This led to the first-ever Grammy revocation in history.

1990 – Sinead O’Connor Rejects Grammy Over Commercialism

Irish musician Sinead O’Connor refused to accept her Grammy, calling out the Recording Academy’s focus on commercial success over artistry.

1998 – Bob Dylan & the ‘Soy Bomb’ Protest

During Bob Dylan’s performance, a shirtless dancer stormed the stage with "Soy Bomb" written across his chest. He was later removed by security, but the moment became one of the Grammys’ most bizarre interruptions.

2004 – 50 Cent Crashes Evanescence’s Speech

Upset over losing Best New Artist to Evanescence, rapper 50 Cent stormed the stage in frustration.

2017 – Adele Apologizes to Beyoncé for Winning Album of the Year

Adele won Album of the Year over Beyoncé’s Lemonade and broke her Grammy on stage, saying Beyoncé deserved the award. The moment reignited accusations of racial bias, with critics arguing that Black artists are often snubbed in major categories.

2020 – The Weeknd’s Grammy Snub

Despite his album After Hours dominating global charts, The Weeknd received zero nominations.
He accused the Grammys of being corrupt, and the snub intensified calls for more transparency in the voting process.

2023 – Harry Styles Booed for Album of the Year Win

Fans were outraged when Harry Styles won Album of the Year over Beyoncé. His acceptance speech comment, "This doesn’t happen to people like me very often," sparked backlash, as critics pointed out that white male artists have historically dominated the category.

The Grammys and Accusations of Racial Bias

Only 11 Black artists have won Album of the Year since the Grammys began in 1957. Between 2012-2020, Black artists made up over 38% of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, yet they received only 26.7% of Grammy nominations. The Recording Academy has been repeatedly accused of favoring white artists, often snubbing commercially successful Black musicians in top categories.

Are the Grammys Still Relevant?

With each passing year, the Grammy Awards face more scrutiny over their credibility, voting process, and inclusivity. From questionable wins to major snubs, the history of Grammy controversies continues to overshadow the awards themselves.