Singer Harry Styles ended up beating out Beyonce for the Album of the Year honor at the 2023 Grammy Awards, and people are not happy about it.
In what many are calling an upset, Styles “Harry’s House” album scored the Grammy Sunday night over Beyonce’s “Renaissance.”
Still, Beyonce had a record-breaking night, walking away as the most-awarded artist in Grammys history with a record 32 wins, CNN noted.
“They called Harry Styles the new King of Pop and gave him AOTY over the best body of work released in recent memory,” one person tweeted. “And hyped the entire show on Beyonce’s back to drive ratings. I wish I could say I’m shocked. #GRAMMYs.”
They called Harry Styles the new King of Pop and gave him AOTY over the best body of work released in recent memory. And hyped the entire show on Beyonce’s back to drive ratings. I wish I could say I’m shocked. #GRAMMYs
— Geneva S. Thomas (@GenevaSThomas) February 6, 2023
“Beyoncé losing Album of The Year at the #GRAMMYs?” another tweeted. “They continue to prove their bias towards Latino & Black people. Wasn’t it enough for Beyoncé to lose in 2016 with Lemonade? Beyoncé continues to be boycotted, without AOTY & used as a token to disguise the Academy’s racism.”
Beyoncé losing Album of The Year at the #GRAMMYs?
They continue to prove their bias towards Latino & Black people.
Wasn't it enough for Beyoncé to lose in 2016 with Lemonade?
Beyoncé continues to be boycotted, without AOTY & used as a token to disguise the Academy’s racism. pic.twitter.com/PC6RYIOe8K
— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) February 6, 2023
While another wrote, “Not Beyoncé and Kendrick losing Album of the Year to Harry Styles during black history month???”
not beyoncé and kendrick losing album of the year to harry styles during black history month???
— yee yee (@yEeyEe006) February 6, 2023
It wasn’t only the award that upset some people. As NBC News noted, Styles seemed to anger Beyonce fans during his acceptance speech.
“I think on nights like tonight it’s important for us to remember there is no such thing as ‘best’ in music,” Styles explained. “I don’t think any of us sit in the studio making decisions on what is going to get us one of these. This doesn’t happen to people like me very often and this is so, so nice. Thank you very much.”
And apparently, it was the last sentence that drew ire from fans.
“‘This doesn’t happen to people like me'” is the most white privilege-iest thing to ever be uttered at an awards show ever for all time,” one person tweeted.
“This doesn’t happen to people like me” is the most white privilege-iest thing to ever be uttered at an awards show ever for all time
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) February 6, 2023
“Harry Styles saying people like him don’t win very often,” another person wrote. “Meanwhile, there are watch parties in Puerto Rico rooting for Benito to win the first-ever Puerto Rican Album of the Year at the Grammys. El chiste se cuenta solo.”
Harry Styles saying people like him don’t win very often. Meanwhile, there are watch parties in Puerto Rico rooting for Benito to win the first-ever Puerto Rican Album of the Year at the Grammys. El chiste se cuenta solo.
— Frances Solá-Santiago (@frances_sola) February 6, 2023
While another wrote, “‘This doesn’t happen to people like me often’- a white man winning AOTY for the umpteenth time in history.”
“This doesn’t happen to people like me often”
– a white man winning aoty for the umpteenth time in history
— ✨Glendale 3/17 & 3/18✨🌙 (@DaynerysSwift_) February 6, 2023
Denying Beyoncé AOTY… during black history month… the Grammy’s never seeing heaven.
— maybe: diane (@dianelyssa) February 6, 2023
Harry Styles can’t act and can’t sing, yet was in two movies this year and won AOTY. Never give up on your dreams, white dudes.
— Danez (@Danez_Smif) February 6, 2023
Fans were also quick to note it was the fourth time Beyonce had been nominated for “AOTY” and lost, the outlet noted.