Awards season is in full swing, kicking off with the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday evening. However this yr, the devastating wildfires throughout Southern California and President Donald Trump’s slew of unsettling government orders set a unique tone all through the ceremony.
Honorees and hosts usually discover methods to ship political messages throughout awards exhibits, and the Grammys had been no completely different.
“There’s been a few changes in Washington. So I’m gonna enjoy tonight because this may be my last time I get to host anything in this country,” host Trevor Noah said in an apparent reference to Trump’s ongoing warfare on civil rights.
However he may be referencing Trump’s government order that ended the legislation prohibiting employers from discriminating towards potential staff based mostly on traits resembling race or intercourse.
Later within the night, rising LGBTQ+ pop icon Chappell Roan—who took house a Grammy for Greatest New Artist—additionally had a politically progressive message to share.
“I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists,” she stated. “Labels, we got you. But do you got us?”
Roan’s message of pointless resilience whereas the rich elite revenue off of the plenty is an ongoing storyline within the present administration.
However earlier than she stepped on stage, Roan spoke with GLAAD about LGBTQ+ rights whereas on the pink carpet.
“Trans people have always existed and they will forever exist and they will never, no matter what happens, take trans joy away,” she stated, acknowledging Trump’s “brutal” government orders towards the transgender neighborhood, together with one which bans transgender folks from the army and one other that bans gender-affirming take care of trans folks below the age of 19.
Trump additionally signed an order ruling that colleges should not take part in “gender ideology,” together with language that doubts the existence of transgender youngsters as a complete. One other of his government orders states that there are solely two genders.
“I would not be here without trans girls. So just know that pop music is thinking about you and cares about you and I’m trying my best to stand up for you in every way that I can,” Roan, whose music leans closely on LGBTQ+ themes, added.
Woman Gaga, who received the Grammy for Greatest Pop Duo/Group Efficiency, additionally shared her assist for the transgender neighborhood.
“Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love,” she stated throughout her acceptance speech.
And Shakira, who’s Colombian, took a second to take a shot at Trump’s anti-immigrant insurance policies.
“I want to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country,” she stated whereas accepting the Grammy for Greatest Latin Pop Album. “You are loved, you are worth it, and I will always fight with you.”
As Each day Kos beforehand reported, Trump butted heads with Colombian President Gustavo Petro after he shackled up undocumented immigrants and despatched them to Colombia on army planes. Regardless of Trump labeling these immigrants as “criminals,” some aboard had been reported to be pregnant girls and kids.
Equally, Trump additionally introduced that he will likely be utilizing Guantanamo Bay as an immigrant focus camp.
Alicia Keys additionally took successful at Trump’s assaults towards range, fairness, and inclusion initiatives whereas accepting the Dr. Dre International Impression Award.
“DEI is not a threat. It’s a gift,” she stated.
The president ordered all federal DEI hires to be placed on go away, and he even blamed DEI for the Los Angeles wildfires and the aircraft crash close to the Nationwide Airport.
“This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices we’ve seen on this stage,” Keys added. “And the more voices, the more powerful the sound. When destructive forces try to burn us down, we rise from the ashes like a phoenix, and as you see tonight, music is the unstoppable language that connects us all.”
