Grammy Snub for Lorde and The Weeknd Ignites Fan Fury and Past Controversies
The announcement of the nominations for the upcoming Grammy Awards has left a trail of disappointment and anger across the internet, with fans of two major global artistes leading the charge. Lorde and The Weeknd, both of whom released highly successful albums this year, were completely shut out, receiving zero nominations. This decision by the Recording Academy has been met with widespread criticism, especially given the commercial and critical performance of their recent work.
A History of Tension with the Academy
For Lorde, this snub feels like a painful echo of the past. Her fourth studio album, Virgin, was a significant release this year, yet it found no place on the Grammy ballot. Fans were quick to point out that this could be a form of retribution for the singer's public criticism of the Academy back in 2018. That year, her album Melodrama was nominated for Album of the Year, but she was not offered a solo performance slot, unlike all the male nominees in the same category.
Lorde had expressed her discontent on social media, and her mother, Sonja Yelich, had amplified the issue by highlighting a New York Times report on the lack of gender diversity at the awards. She posted a picture of the article, circling a section that stated, "Out of the 899 people nominated in the last six Grammy Awards, the report found, 9 per cent were women. This year Lorde is the only woman nominated for album of the year; she is not scheduled to perform."
The Weeknd's Complicated Grammy Relationship
The situation for The Weeknd is equally perplexing. The R&B superstar released his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, to great acclaim and strong streaming numbers. However, his relationship with the Grammys has been rocky. He had previously boycotted the awards after his 2020 album After Hours was shockingly snubbed.
In a surprising turn, he ended his boycott to perform at this year's ceremony, only to see his latest album, for which he performed, receive no nominations. The irony of the situation has not been lost on fans and critics alike.
Other Notable Omissions and the Taylor Swift Exception
Lorde and The Weeknd were not the only artistes whose fans felt they were overlooked. Benson Boone, with his album American Heart, and Gracie Abrams, whose song That's So True was a massive hit, were also considered snubs by their dedicated followers.
As for Taylor Swift, whose absence from the list might raise eyebrows, her album The Life of a Showgirl was released after the eligibility cutoff period for this year's awards, which ran from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025. Her latest work came out on October 3, 2025, making it eligible for next year's ceremony.
The uproar surrounding this year's nominations underscores ongoing debates about the transparency and fairness of major award shows, with the snub of two powerhouse artistes serving as a flashpoint for broader discontent within the music community.
