Nicki Minaj slams Grammys saying she was robbed of Best New Artist in 2012: 'They gave it to white man Bon Iver'
On Tuesday, November 24, just as the Grammy nominations arrived, rapper Nicki Minaj took a hit at the whole institution. She took to Twitter and wrote, “Never forget the Grammys didn’t give me my best new artist award when I had 7 songs simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade- went on to inspire a generation. They gave it to the white man Bon Iver. #PinkFriday.”
During the 2012 Grammys, Bon Iver beat out Minaj and other nominees including Skrillex, J. Cole, and The Band Perry for the highly coveted award. And although she has been nominated nine additional times, Minaj has yet to win one.
Never forget the Grammys didn’t give me my best new artist award when I had 7 songs simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade- went on to inspire a generation. They gave it to the white man Bon Iver. #PinkFriday
— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) November 24, 2020
This isn’t the first time Minaj has spoken against Grammy Awards. Last year in February, when a Twitter user had said, “Nicki Minaj has been at the top of her game for way too long to not have had a Grammy. I don’t know what white man from the boards she pissed off,” Minaj had said that she had “p***ed off” awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich, who Ariana Grande recently accused of “lying” over her absence from this year’s event.
“I p***ed off the same man Ariana just called out for lying,” she tweeted. “Grammy producer KEN. I was bullied into staying quiet for 7 years out of fear. But I’ll tell my fans the REAL on the next episode of #QueenRadio they deserve the truth."
I pissed off the same man Ariana just called out for lying. Grammy producer KEN. I was bullied into staying quiet for 7 years out of fear. But I’ll tell my fans the REAL on the next episode of #QueenRadio they deserve the truth.
— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) February 11, 2019
Also, CONGRATS to everyone who won last night. 🙏🏽 https://t.co/YjmoIOPt6o
Minaj is not the only one talking about snubs from the Grammys, especially as artists of color. This year, the music awards snubbed The Weeknd, despite the fact that his song ‘Blinding Lights’ has been a massive hit. His 'After Hours' album is predicted to top charts; and what more, he’s even playing the Super Bowl halftime show the Sunday after the Grammys.
Other widely predicted artists who were snubbed include Summer Walker, Alicia Keys (who has been a former Grammy host), Luke Combs, Jason Isbell, Blake Shelton, Blackpink, Halsey, Charli XCX, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, and the Jonas Brothers.
After Minaj, even Justin Bieber made a statement about the award, though he preceded it with a disclaimer: “Please don’t mistake this as me being ungrateful, these are just my thoughts take em or leave em. Thank you to the people who fought for me to even have any noms.”
His statement, though less critical of the awards compared to Minaj, said, “To the Grammys, I am flattered to be acknowledged and appreciated for my artistry. I am very meticulous and intentional about my music. With that being said, I set out to make an R&B album. 'Changes' were and are an R&B album. It is not being acknowledged as an R&B album which is very strange to me."
The Grammy nominations are a two-step process in which committees, which include veteran music professionals who are not publicly identified, make their decisions based on a shortlist handed down from a screening committee that considers thousands of submissions.
