Awards season is in full swing, kicking off with the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night time. However this yr, the devastating wildfires throughout Southern California and President Donald Trump’s slew of unsettling govt orders set a distinct tone all through the ceremony.
Honorees and hosts typically discover methods to ship political messages throughout awards reveals, and the Grammys have been no completely different.
“There’s been just a few adjustments in Washington. So I’m gonna get pleasure from tonight as a result of this can be my final time I get to host something on this nation,” host Trevor Noah mentioned in an obvious reference to Trump’s ongoing struggle on civil rights.
Host Trevor Noah talking on the Grammy Awards.
However he may be referencing Trump’s govt order that ended the regulation prohibiting employers from discriminating towards potential workers based mostly on traits equivalent to race or intercourse.
Later within the night, rising LGBTQ+ pop icon Chappell Roan—who took residence 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 mentioned. “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 crimson carpet.
“Trans people have always existed and they will forever exist and they will never, no matter what happens, take trans joy away,” she mentioned, acknowledging Trump’s “brutal” govt orders towards the transgender group, together with one which bans transgender folks from the navy and one other that bans gender-affirming look after trans folks underneath the age of 19.
Trump additionally signed an order ruling that faculties should not take part in “gender ideology,” together with language that doubts the existence of transgender youngsters as an entire. One other of his govt 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 gained the Grammy for greatest pop duo/group efficiency, additionally shared her assist for the transgender group.
“Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love,” she mentioned throughout her acceptance speech.
Shakira accepts the Grammy for greatest latin pop album.
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 mentioned 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 navy planes. Regardless of Trump labeling these immigrants as “criminals,” some aboard have 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 World Affect Award.
“DEI is not a threat. It’s a gift,” she mentioned.
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.”
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