Harry Styles’ Grammy acceptance speech sets off a fan-fueled firestorm
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Harry Styles’ acceptance speech after he won the Grammy award for album of the year caused an uproar on social media Sunday night.
“I think on nights like tonight it’s important for us to remember there is no such thing as ‘best’ in music. I don’t think any of us sit in the studio making decisions on what is going to get us one of these,” Styles said, referring to the award in his hands, which he won for the album “Harry’s House.”
But it was the last sentence of his speech that riled up social media users, who took different interpretations of what he meant: “This doesn’t happen to people like me very often and this is so, so nice. Thank you very much,” Styles said, before handing the microphone off to his co-writers Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson.
Twitter users had some opinions on Styles’ win over the Beyoncé album “Renaissance,” as the loss made this the fourth time she did not get the album of the year award. Styles was up against Beyoncé and eight other artists, including Bad Bunny, Lizzo, Adele and Kendrick Lamar.
Some wondered what Styles meant by “people like me,” him being a white male artist nominated in the same category as women and artists of color.
“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. 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
As it always was I guess
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) February 6, 2023
Meanwhile, others hoped a Black artist would win the coveted award 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
Others still rooted for their favorite artists, including Adele, Lizzo and Beyoncé, with some Beyoncé fans joking about an uprising against the Recording Academy.
having Adele, lizzo and Beyonce they chose to give it to a man that couldn't even sing the song live pic.twitter.com/OzV8QuVIxW
— mariska loml (@hargilovingliv) February 6, 2023
WE STORMING THE GRAMMYS TOMORROW! FEBRUARY 6th!!!!! pic.twitter.com/rxjlyModrk
— 💫 (@heyjaeee) February 6, 2023
Fans of Styles came to his defense and had their own interpretations of his speech ending, with some commenters acknowledging his beginnings on the reality show competition "The X Factor."
He didn’t say people like him doesn’t win. He always says anything good happens to him doesn’t happen to people like him who went to try luck on a tv contest with no training or knowledge. No todo es sobre otros, si no sobre su historia personal.
— HARRY AOTY 👄 (@simplyharrie) February 6, 2023
Many reminded Twitter users to be kind and supportive, no matter who won the album of the year award.
We all know Beyoncé is incredible. She has 29 GRAMMYS. Please stop taking special moments away from other artists in her defense. They did not choose to win over her, but they ARE living the biggest moment of their career & you have the NERVE to shout anything but support?? 😭
— DelicatePOV 🌻 🍓 ✨ (@agibsteroni) February 6, 2023
I genuinely believe Beyoncé is long overdue to win AOTY and also she is now the record-holder for most Grammys ever won. It’s not necessary to disparage another person just to support your fave. I don’t know. Maybe that’s just my philosophy.
— Jamie Varon (@jamievaron) February 6, 2023
Despite the album of the year upset, Beyoncé fans also acknowledged a big milestone for the singer when she won four awards this year, breaking the record for most wins by any artist in Grammys history, with 32 awards so far.
Listen, @Beyonce made history tonight! She of course wins OUR album of the year but let’s also recognize that Harry Styles has been doing his thing too and very deserving! Let’s celebrate and show love! Thats literally what her album is about 🎉💃🏾🫶🏾 #GRAMMYs
— Tori (@JustTori_xoxo) February 6, 2023
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com