Harry Styles' Big Win Called Out After Grammys Reveals His Personal Connection to Producer

Styles beat out Beyoncé and Adele for the 'Album of the Year' award.

It was Harry Styles’ night at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

In addition to landing the "Best Pop Vocal Album" award, the pop star beat out the likes of Beyoncé, Adele, and Bad Bunny to take home the coveted "Album of the Year Award."

And while Stylers everywhere were celebrating, some viewers were less than pleased, especially after the Recording Academy revealed that the singer has a personal connection to a longtime producer of the ceremony broadcast.

During the show, the official Recording Acadamy/Grammys page tweeted a “fun fact” about Styles' relationship with Ben Winston that didn't sit well with many.

“Fun fact: The voice at the beginning of “As It Was” is the daughter of our very own #GRAMMYs producer, @BenWinston!”

Winston, who also serves as the executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, has also been spearheading Grammy production on CBS since 2017, per Just Jared.

Related: All the Grammys Backstage Photos You Didn't See

Fans will also recognize him as the director behind One Direction: A Year in the Making documentary in 2011, who also directed the boy band’s 3D concert film in 2013.

The internet immediately erupted after the connection was established, with one suggesting that Styles should have never been nominated “for this reason alone.”

Another exclaimed that the official account accidentally “exposed what’s going on behind the scene.”

“It seems like we already know why Harry is winning big…” one viewer tweeted, as yet another questioned, “why would y’all admit this.”

Someone even went as far as taking the tweet as confirmation that the show was “rigged.”

Elsewhere, someone noted that there was a clear "conflict of interest."

However, it's likely just sheer coincidence that Styles, like many other celebs, has friends in high places. Grammy winners are chosen by Recording Academy members, which typically consists of people who are involved with the creation of music like artists, musicians, songwriters, and producers. Members can also be music industry professionals or student members which includes those studying to be in the music industry.

Therefore, unless Winston was a member of the Recording Academy, he would have no bearing on the evening’s winners.

One fan came to Winston’s defense, writing that he “is known, liked, and respected by most if not all of the artists in attendance tonight. I will defend his ethics as fiercely as they would. This sweet moment between a man and his goddaughter is not cause to cry foul play."

Winston was also photographed posing with a handful of celebrities that evening, including Adele and Brandi Carlile.

While Styles took home two major awards, there were plenty of winners—Adele took home “Best Pop Solo Performance” for “Easy on Me,” Beyoncé made history as the artist who holds the record for most Grammy awards ever—shattering the record with her win for "Best Dance/Electronic Album" for Renaissance—while Bad Bunny took the gold for Best Musica Urbana Album for Un Verano Sin Ti.

Congrats to everyone who won big during music’s biggest night.

Related: See the Fierce Fashions from the 2023 Grammy Awards Red Carpet