Beyoncé’s Album of the Year Snub is Spawning Conspiracy Theories
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When Beyoncé's Renaissance was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammys, there seemed to be a pretty general consensus that she stood a good chance of winning: it was undoubtedly one of the most talked-about, critically acclaimed releases of 2022, marked a change in musical direction for Beyoncé as an artist, and paid homage to the queer origins of disco and house. Given the cultural ubiquity of lead single 'Break My Soul,' the viral longevity of tracks like 'Alien Superstar,' and the fact that Beyoncé has never been awarded in this category before, the stars all seemed to be aligning with Renaissance.
So it shocked some fans when instead, Harry Styles ended up winning Album of the Year for his third studio album, Harry's House, and Beyoncé instead took home the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. It was still a triumphant night for Queen Bey, as she officially became the most-awarded artist in the history of the Grammys, but to the Beyhive, it added insult to injury: a large number of those awards have been in the R&B or Urban Contemporary niches, despite her creative output having consistent mainstream success.
This ire quickly became aimed at Styles, who said of his win that "this doesn't happen to people like me," a comment which his fans believe to be a reference to his own background—Styles grew up working class with a single mother before being launched to fame as part of One Direction on The X Factor—but has been interpreted by others as a disingenuous thing for a cis white man to say, given that Beyoncé, the most celebrated Black female artist of her generation, has never won Album of the Year.
And naturally, the outrage online was widespread. A number of Beyoncé fans latched onto the fact that, during the live broadcast, British singer Adele appeared to leave her seat and walk out of the auditorium while Styles made his acceptance speech, while others began to launch their own investigations into what behind-the-scenes machinations may have gone into "robbing" Beyoncé of her rightful win. Did you know, for instance, that the child's voice featured at the beginning of Styles' single 'As It Was' belongs to the daughter of a Grammys producer?
Even one of Beyoncé's creative collaborators, producer The-Dream, alleged some kind of full-blown conspiracy. "100 people say we love what Artist z has done, those same say we love Artist z album over everything," he wrote on Twitter. "They super consume the album, they come to the concerts, because she’s amazing ,but when it’s award time they get on the phone and gather, and oh do I mean gather!"
Regardless of whether there were truly industry shenanigans that went into the decision to award Styles over Beyoncé, the facts remain the same: Queen Bey stood and applauded Styles when he won, and it was a truly entertaining time to be on Twitter. Here are some of the highlights.
100 people say we love what Artist z has done, those same say we love Artist z album over everything. They super consume the album, they come to the concerts, because she’s amazing ,but when it’s award time they get on the phone and gather, and oh do I mean gather!.
— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) February 6, 2023
True it’s unlike any other musical platform . It’s based on purely the taste of “fellow musicians” kw “FELLOW”people we work beside and see. It’s like u showed up late and you wondered who told the boss you came in 2 min late, the person u work beside told, so it’s all G!
— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) February 6, 2023
Adele was NOT trying to listen to Harry’s speech as she walks out when he won Album of The Year at the #GRAMMYs this year over Beyoncé 😭pic.twitter.com/4p7I9Q7srt
— The Nikki Diaries (@thenikkidiaries) February 6, 2023
me when harry said "this doesnt happen to ppl like me often" as he won over BEYONCE pic.twitter.com/wwUCx2qFn3
— ♡ (@tragedygrls) February 6, 2023
beyoncé thanking the queer community for her award and acknowledging how our culture has impacted her success only for harry styles to get on stage and say “this doesn’t happen to people like me” an hour later pic.twitter.com/cSUBciM8LR
— el | tlou spoilers (@eIwashere) February 6, 2023
beyonce and harry styles fans at each others throats. i hope swifties and barbz find a way into it i want to see bloodshed.
— caleb hearon (@calebsaysthings) February 6, 2023
Stan twitter I’m sorry to break it to you but Lizzo was incredibly happy for Harry Styles and queen Beyoncé stayed standing and clapping the whole time. Y’all try to push some narrative is weird but it’s not reality. pic.twitter.com/b0jOpOpWhw
— ³⁰ (fan account) (@sushiforari) February 6, 2023
Me calling the Grammys after Harry Styles won AOTY and Not Beyoncé pic.twitter.com/zgZpOqxWBC
— Weekly Newsical (@WeeklyNewsical) February 6, 2023
WHY TF DID HARRY STYLELS WIN AOTY INSTEAD BEYONCÉ DURING BHM TO #scammys pic.twitter.com/7wRslyN7a8
— ~𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓷~ (@Deshon1109) February 6, 2023
Someone yelled " BEYONCÈ " while harry was giving his speech lmao 😭#GRAMMYs #AOTY #Beyonce pic.twitter.com/mVYCia5fal
— Summer Renaissance King (@ffinnscarter) February 6, 2023
Beyonce's florist is make a bouquet of flowers with a congratulations note for Harry as we speak. pic.twitter.com/kvuV48pEY4
— Sisa (@TheTitanBaddie) February 6, 2023
two things are true at once #forme: Harry’s House is Styles’ best project to date that 100% showcases is craft and ability as an artist and it deserves to be recognized as such. Renaissance was once again a testament to Beyoncé’s…EVERYTHING and the academy loves to mess with her
— brianna (@bribrisimps) February 6, 2023
Beyoncé has now lost Album of the Year to Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele, and Harry Styles. Do you see a pattern here? Fuck You @RecordingAcad #GRAMMYs
— 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚔 (@kingbeyshive) February 6, 2023
BEYONCÉ DID NOT JUST LOOSE AOTY TO HARRY STYLES IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH ??? #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/uvYgwgG1tz
— positiviTEA (@ksthoughtss) February 6, 2023
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
Harry Styles needs to send Kendrick and Beyonce a 9,000 word apology text and get it tattooed all over his body
— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) February 6, 2023
adele pulling beyoncé to the side backstage after harry’s speech pic.twitter.com/jqmAegKUfx
— p (@oneandonlyptah) February 6, 2023
YALL CHOSE HARRY STYLES OVER BEYONCÉ FOR AOTY???? #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/ScFouJfISf
— Blaise (they/them) (@blaiser8201) February 6, 2023
Having a choice between Beyonce or Bad Bunny and somehow giving it to Harry Styles is an incredible way to unite African Americans, the general African diaspora, Hispanics, and Latinos.
— Zito (@_Zeets) February 6, 2023
HARRY WON OVER BEYONCÉ?! IM FINNA PERSONALLY BE AMERICAS PROBLEM pic.twitter.com/bvYD7nA5UP
— 𓃵 (@Y2KFLO) February 6, 2023
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