The American rapper, who is competing in five categories including album of the year, did not perform on April 3 as agreed. In question: racist and hateful remarks made on Instagram last week.
Kanye West persona non grata at the Grammy Awards. In the running in five categories, including album of the year for Donda, the American rapper did not perform on April 3 in Las Vegas. Blame it on his “disturbing behavior online,” as a spokesperson for the artist told Variety. A wisely considered decision on the part of the organizers of the musical awards ceremony.
Harassment, verbal abuse and racism
Failing to be banned on social networks, the scene, especially that of the Grammy Awards, could serve as a springboard for Kanye West to be heard. Last week, Instagram suspended its account for 24 hours, due to « harassment, verbal abuse and hate speech ». The social network wanted to stop its untimely publications to his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and his new companion, actor and comedian Pete Davidson (The Suicide Squad). In another publication, the rapper attacked the comedian Trevor Noah, and this in racist terms, guilty according to him of having revealed in broad daylight the harassment he is subjecting to his former companion.
The rapper The Game wanted to defend his friend banned from the ceremony, without mentioning the hateful remarks that he is accused of. « The Grammys decided at the last minute to prevent Kanye West from performing at the ceremony as if we had no idea it was going to happen, » he explained on Instagram. Maybe because Trevor Noah is present and there was a conversation between his team and the Academy that led to this decision, or because the account of Ye [name of Kanye West in the civil registry, editor’s note ] was suspended a few days ago for unknown reasons”. Unfailing support, since The Game invited the person concerned on its title Eazy, published in January. The clip features Kanye West kidnapping and then burying a clay character, whose resemblance to Pete Davidson, Kim Kardashian’s new Don Juan, is quite striking.
Among the artists nominated for the Grammy Awards, two names also make people cringe. Starting with Marilyn Manson, accused of sexual assault, rape and violence. If he did not produce a record in his name this year, he nevertheless collaborated with Kanye West for his album Donda. The rocker is therefore in the running in three categories: album of the year, best rap album and best rap song of the year for Jail. Dave Chappelle’s nomination for best audiobook album is equally controversial. The comedian is accused of conveying transphobic remarks in his show The Closer broadcast on Netflix.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, the organizing company of the Grammy Awards, says the man must be separated from the artist and that the accusations will not change the course of the ceremony. “We don’t look at people’s history, we don’t look at their criminal records, we don’t look at anything else, other than that our own rules are well followed, namely, is such album qualifies for such and such a category, depending on release date and other criteria,” he told The Wrap magazine. Recommendations that apparently do not apply to Kanye West…
