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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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.
Adele wins Best Pop Solo Performance for ‘Easy on Me'
Adele dedicated her 16th Grammy win to her son Angelo.
She said her partner, Rich Paul, had told her “not to cry” when accepting her award, but became visibly emotional anyway.
“I wrote this first verse in shower when I was choosing to change my son’s life,” she said; “he’s been nothing but humble and gracious and loving to me the whole time.”
It is the British singer’s first award of the evening, despite having been nominated seven times.
Adele accepted the award from her new “best friend”, Dwayne Johnson.
Jill Biden is here?
For some reason, the First Lady of the United States is here! Biden honoured Shervin Hajipour for his Iranian protest song before announcing the award for Best Song.
Bonnie Raitt stuns with shock Song of the Year win
Nobody saw that one coming! Bonnie Raitt wins Song of the Year for “Just Like That”. The veteran singer/songwriter beat out favourites including Lizzo, Adele and Beyoncé.
“I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to say,” she said. She praised songwriters, the “soul-digging, hard-working people who put these ideas to music”.
Lizzo wins Record of the Year
Lizzo wins Record of the Year for her monumental hit, “About Damn Time”.
During her speech, Lizzo gave special tribute to Beyoncé who she said was “clearly” “the artist of our lives”.
“I skipped school to see you perform. You changed my life. The way you make me feel, I was like, ‘I wanna make people feel the same!’”
Samara Joy wins Best New Artist
In another curveball, jazz singer Samara Joy has taken home the trophy for Best New Artist.
“I’ve been watching y’all on TV for so long,” the shocked 23-year-old told the crowd after being presented the award by last year’s winner, Olivia Rodrigo.
“To be here ... by just being myself, by just being who I was born as, I’m so thankful.”
She already took home a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Linger Awhile.
HARRY STYLES WINS ALBUM OF THE YEAR!
Another surprise as Harry Styles takes home Album of the Year for Harry’s House.
The former One Direction star beat Beyoncé, Adele, Bad Bunny and ABBA to bring home the trophy.
Styles says ‘this doesn’t happen to people like me very often'
“I think on nights like tonight, it’s important for us to remember there is no such thing as best in music,” Styles said when accepting Album of the Year.
“This is really really kind, I’m so so grateful,” he said, before adding, quite questionably, that “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often”. Perhaps Styles might not be aware that Beyoncé – who he beat – has never won Album of the Year.
He then passed the mic to his collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson.
That’s all folks!
Thanks for joining us for another (long) Grammy Awards ceremony. We’re closed out by the particularly long (8 minutes, to be exact) “God Did” performed by DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Fridayy, Jay-Z, Rick Ross and John Legend.
Until next time!
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