BTS Boycotts Grammys: From Zayn Malik To The Weeknd And Ariana Grande, Singers Who’ve Criticized Recording Academy

BTS has denounced the addition of a discriminatory category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, to the Recording Academy’s annual awards night. Previously, fans of the group have condemned it as a xenophobic attempt to separate them from the main categories and not give them an equal chance at competing for it. In the past, many fellow artists have expressed their discontent with the ceremony and the way it operates. 

Back in 2023, Bad Bunny performed his songs, "El Apagón" and "Después de la Playa," in front of the Grammys audience with the subtitling of the tracks reading “[SINGING IN NON-ENGLISH]." Three years later, he was awarded the Album of the Year, becoming the first artist to do so with a record sung entirely in a non-English language. The same cannot be said for multiple international acts who have continued to voice the lack of opportunity for other tongues. 

Whether an album has been considered mainstream or not, this time around the deciding factor for its eligibility seems to be stemming from the language it has been sung in, resulting in a new Asian Pop Category. When it was announced back in June, it was widely believed to be a big opportunity for Asian musicians to finally get the exposure that they have been waiting for. Or so they thought. Soon after, many pointed out that it was a rather discriminating move against Asian musicians, which does not place them on the same ground as peers from the Western world. It remains to be seen how the Recording Academy responds to BTS’ response. 

Here are the many singing acts who have been displeased with the Grammy Awards. 

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Jay-Z 
Coming in support of his wife Beyoncé in 2024, Jay-Z spoke out against her never being awarded an Album of the Year despite having the most wins. He did so during his speech accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award and she went on to add the feather to her hat the following year. 

Ariana Grande 
The songstress decided to directly call out one of the show’s producers when they claimed she couldn’t put together a performance in time. She expressed feeling her creativity and self-expression were being stifled.

The Weeknd
Owing to the lack of nominations at the 2021 Grammys, Abel Tesfaye tweeted a rant about the awards being corrupt and demanding transparency. 

Mariah Carey
The Songbird Supreme has also been disappointed with the show for not awarding her more wins for her popular releases. She has previously expressed how she was ‘scammed’ by them.

Drake
The Canadian star has repeatedly voiced his frustration against the system created at the Grammy awards. Calling it disconnected, he vouched for The Weeknd’s releases.

Justin Bieber
Similarly, the missed opportunity to nominate him in the RnB category instead of Pop is what irked Justin Bieber. He affirmed that it was not him being ungrateful but merely wanting to be in the right category.

Zayn Malik
One of the biggest critics of the awards, the former One Direction member has been vocal about his dislike of the way it functions. He also pointed out that the ceremony requires inside contacts to be considered and does not wish to participate in this. 

Halsey
After being snubbed at the 2021 ceremony, the singer called out the grapevine campaigning system that it follows as well as the possible ‘bribes’ that may go unnoticed.

Charli XCX
Comparing her album “Crash” being shunned from the 2023 ceremony to Mia Goth not being nominated an Oscar for “Pearl,” she then went on to receive eight Grammy nominations in 2025 for her album “Brat”.

Wiz Khalifa, Will Smith, Nicki Minaj, Pink, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Tyler, the Creator, Quavo, Elle Goulding, Morgan Wallen, Machine Gun Kelly, and 50 Cent are among the other acts who have voiced displeasure against the functioning of Recording Academy awards. 

Additionally, Frank Ocean refrained from submitting his album “Blonde” to the award show in 2017 and blamed it for a lack of representation at the event.