Grammys 2023: Six biggest talking points, from Ben Affleck memes to Beyoncé’s record-breaking win
British pop star won over Beyonce’s critically adored album ‘Renaissance’
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Your support makes all the difference.Harry Styles took home the biggest prize at this year’s Grammy Awards, marking a shock upset on what many expected to be Beyonce’s night.
The British pop singer won for his 2021 record Harry’s House, beating projects by Beyoncé, Adele and Lizzo.
“S***, well s***,” he said, upon accepting the trophy. “I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me, and a lot of different times in my life I’ve listened to everyone in this category when I’m alone.
“On nights like tonight, it’s so important to remember there’s no such thing as best. This is so kind, this doesn’t happen to people like me very often and it’s so nice.”
Despite missing out on Album of the Year, which she has still never won, Beyoncé took home her 32nd Grammy Award to become the most decorated artist in the awards show’s history.
Other memorable moments on the night included Quavo’s tribute performance for his nephew and bandmate Takeoff, who was killed last year, Dave Chappelle winning Best Comedy Album for his Netflix comedy special, The Closer, which drew heavy criticism for jokes about the transgender community, and Viola Davis officially achieving EGOT status, becoming only the third Black woman in history to earn the honour.
Below are the biggest talking points of the 65th annual Grammy Awards.
Kim Petras makes history by becoming the first trans woman to win a Grammy award for Best Pop Duo/Group Collaboration
Kim Petras and Sam Smith accepted the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Collaboration for their song “Unholy,” making Petras the first-ever transgender woman to win a Grammy in the category.
Petras and Smith walked onstage together, but Smith stood behind Petras and gave her the mic.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras said. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who take these doors open for me so I couldn’t be here tonight,” she said, before referencing the late Grammy-nominated producer Sophie, who died in 2020.
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Petras also thanked Madonna for “fighting for LGBTQ rights” before turning the speech to her mother, who she says supported her throughout her entire journey.
The singer ended the speech by turning back to Smith. “This is a huge moment for me, Sam. Thank you. You’re a true angel and hero in my life. And I love you and everyone who made the song too. I love you guys so much. Sorry, I didn’t write down the names!”
Sam Smith fans call out reporter for misgendering singer
Sam Smith’s fans called out a reporter for misgendering the singer while covering the 2023 Grammy Awards red carpet.
Smith, who uses they/them pronouns, arrived at the awards show with Kim Petras when a reporter with the Associated Press said: “Sam Smith has had a lot of controversy around his outfits this past year, I love that he’s continuing to push the mould, love that he’s continuing to break out from the Sam Smith that we knew at the ballads.
“He’s still singing those ballads, but he’s definitely diving fully in, into pop music, and we can see that, not only in his music, but also in his looks as well.”
Smith came out as non-binary and genderqueer in 2019. In an interview, earlier this year, the singer said changing their pronouns “felt like coming home”.
Dave Chappelle won a Grammy award for the Netflix special that sparked transphobia accusations
Dave Chappelle won Best Comedy Album at the 2023 Grammys for his recent Netflix comedy special, The Closer, which drew heavy criticism for jokes about the transgender community.
Critics accused Chappelle of “transphobic” remarks, such as saying he was “team Terf” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). He was also widely condemned for claiming that the LGBTQ+ community was attempting to “destroy” the lives of celebrities such as JK Rowling by “cancelling” them.
Beyoncé becomes the biggest winner in Grammys history
Beyoncé broke the record for the most Grammy Award wins of all time, after collecting her 32nd trophy at this year’s ceremony.
The singer made history as she won the Best Dance/Electronic Album award, for her 2022 album Renaissance. In doing so, she overtook Hungarian-British conductor George Solti, whose record of 31 awards had stood for more than 20 years.
Apart from Best Dance/Electronic Album, the “Break My Soul” singer also won Best Dance/Electronic Recording, Best Traditional R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song awards.
Ben Affleck became the meme of the night
Amid all the revelry was poor old Ben Affleck, who looked dejected next to his wife Jennifer Lopez.
Affleck, who is no stranger to the meme community, was quickly derided for his “miserable” expression on social media.
“Ben Affleck is every guy at his wife’s work party,” one user tweeted, while another wrote: “Ben Affleck at the Grammys is me any time I have to be on a Zoom call.”
Fans got emotional during the In Memoriam section
Emotions were running high during Quavo’s tribute to Takeoff, which was followed by a tribute for Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie.
Quavo sang his song “Without You” with help from Maverick City Music in memory of his Migos bandmate, who died aged 28 in November after being shot.
Meanwhile, Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood, and Bonnie Raitt paid tribute to Fleetwood Mac member Christie McVie with a rendition of “Songbird”.
As always, the in-memoriam segment was a painful reminder of all the incredible artists we lost recently.
Scroll down to see how the night unfolded.
Lizzo stuns on the red carpet in orange Dolce and Gabbana cape
I adore Lizzo’s red carpet look! Orange corset-style bust / dress, the huge cape. OTT as all the best things are.
Watch: Lizzo stuns in orange floral cape on Grammys red carpet
Lizzo has brought spring to the 2023 Grammys red carpet in an orange Dolce and Gabbana cape and corset gown. The “About Damn Time” singer arrived at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday 5 February dressed in the vibrant floral cape designed by the Italian fashion house. Underneath the flowing cape was a tangerine dress with a corset bodice and white vertical beading. Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, shared several photos of the floral ensemble to Instagram as she stepped out on the red carpet in Los Angeles, California. Sign up to our news alerts here
Sam Smith misgendered within minutes of arriving at the Grammys
British singer Sam Smith, who goes by they/them pronouns, was misgenered repeatedly by a reporter on the red carpet just now.
Arriving with “Unholy” co-star Kim Petras, Smith was referred to by an AP reporter as ‘he/him’ at least a dozen times.
Suffice to say, fans tuning into the livestream were not impressed, with one questioning: “How hard is it?”
Taylor Swift wins Best Music Video prize with self-directed All Too Well: The Short Film
Taylor Swift has won a Grammy for her music video for the 10-minute version of “All Too Well”, beating other nominees including Adele, BTS, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar and Doja Cat.
The short film starred Stranger Things actor Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien.
This is Swift’s 12th Grammy and her second for Best Music Video. She last won the music video prize with Kendrick Lamar for their “Bad Blood” visuals in 2018.
Taylor Swift has arrived on the red carpet!
Fans react to Shania Twain’s ensemble from designer Harris Reed
From my fab colleague Meredith:
Shania Twain has turned heads after arriving at the 2023 Grammys in what many fans are calling a look that could only be worn by Cruella De Vil.
The 57-year-old singer walked the red carpet at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday 5 February wearing a polka dot suit designed by Harris Reed. The glittering co-ord suit featured bell bottom pants and a super-oversized matching hat.
Twain, who is presenting at this year’s awards ceremony, added a pop of colour to the black and white look when she paired it with a vibrant red wig and matching red lipstick.
“It was black and white so I needed to have a little splash of colour,” Twain told E! Live from the Red Carpet host Bobby Bones.
Unsurprisingly, fans of the Canadian singer had some mixed reactions to the unique ensemble on social media. While many people praised the five-time Grammy winner for the unconventional look, others felt the Harris Reed design looked more like something worn by a Disney supervillain.
Full story:
Shania Twain fans react to singer’s ‘Cruella De Vil’ look at 2023 Grammys
‘101 Dalmatians is shooting down the street’
LL Cool J looking forward to serving hip-hop ‘on a silver platter’ during special Grammys segment
The rapper will present a segment celebrating 50 years of hip hop in 2023.
“It feels amazing,” he said, speaking on the event’s red carpet.
“It feels like yesterday I was just a little kid in the basement listening to Cold Crush tapes and now here we are all these years later on, on the biggest stage in the world in hundreds of countries around the world, presenting hip hop the way I think it should be seen by the masses.”
He continued: “For a long time hip hop has been served in a brown greasy paper bag but tonight we’re going to serve it on a silver platter, so it feels good.”
Th rapper added that segment producer Questlove had curated “one of the most spectacular line-ups in a long time”.
LL Cool J says he is looking forward to serving hip hop “on a silver platter” during a special segment at the 65th annual Grammy awards.
Press Association
Anitta arrives on the red carpet
Brazilian singer Anitta was just interviewed by the Associated Press team on the red carpet. Explaining her look, she described 2003 Atelier Versace as “vintage”, and now I feel like I have to check into a retirement home. Vintage?!! How very dare you.
Harry Styles arrives on the red carpet
Harry Styles has rocked up on the Grammys red carpet wearing a glittering rainbow jumpsuit with a very low neckline.
Check it out:
A closer look at Taylor Swift’s win for Best Music Video
Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well: The Short Film” has won the Grammy for Best Music Video at the awards ceremony on Sunday (5 February).
The 65th Grammy Awards are underway at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles.
Swift, who directed the 10-minute long video starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, was nominated in the category alongside Adele, Harry Styles, Doja Cat, and Kendrick Lamar.
She released the re-recorded version of her 2012 album Red in November 2021.
Full story:
Taylor Swift’s All Too Well short wins Best Music Video at Grammy Awards
Swift previously won the award in 2014, along with Kendrick Lamar, for their collaboration ‘Bad Blood’
Who was Georg Solti? Record-breaking conductor who made Grammys history
Beyoncé is on track to become the most decorated artist in Grammys history tonight (5 February).
The US singer has 30 Grammy Awards to her name already and is nominated for a further seven at tonight’s ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
She picked up two of those Grammys at the pre-show Premiere Ceremony, so needs just one more win to tie and two to beat the current record holder, the late Hungarian-British conductor, Sir Gorg Solti.
Everything you need to know about Grammys legend Georg Solti
Solti clocked up 31 Grammy wins before his death in 1997
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