The Weeknd has said that he “doesn’t care” about his recent Grammy nomination snub.
The artist, real name Abel Tesfaye, is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday (7 February), and perform songs from hit albums including 2020’s After Hours, Starboy (2016), and Beauty Behind the Madness (2015).
Speaking to Billboard, the “Blinding Lights” singer addressed last year’s Grammy nominations list, which failed to recognise him in any category.
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“Look, I personally don’t care any more,” he said. “I have three Grammys, which mean nothing to me now, obviously. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I want the Grammy!’ It’s just that this happened... I suck at giving speeches anyways.”
He added: “Forget awards shows.”
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Though his omission from the list of nominees last year was widely considered a snub, The Weeknd had won three Grammys previously – two for Best Urban Contemporary Album (for Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy) and one for Best R&B Performance (for “Earned It”).
Before the nominees were announced, the success of his No 1 album After Hours and its lead single, “Blinding Lights”, led many to consider him a frontrunner at this year’s ceremony.
Writing on Twitter after the snub, Tesfaye said: “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.”
The Grammys will take place on 14 March at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, having been pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic.
You can find out how to watch The Weeknd’s forthcoming Super Bowl performance here.
