There’s no denying Album of the Year is the most coveted award of all at the Grammys. So when it was awarded to Harry Styles over the likes of Adele and Beyoncé, the latter’s fans were not happy.
As the former One Direction star took to the stage to accept his trophy at the ceremony yesterday, there were mixed reactions from both viewers at home and the audience inside the Crypto.com Arena in LA, where the event was held.
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“On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as ‘best’ in music. I don’t think any of us sit in the studio thinking, making decisions based on what is gonna get us one of these,” the 29-year-old said during his speech.
“This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful. This doesn’t happen to people like me very often.”
Unfortunately for Styles, midway through his acceptance speech, someone in the crowd could be heard yelling, “Beyoncé!” Much to the shock of many in the vicinity, another person screamed: “Beyoncé should have won!”
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However, there was some love for the British singer with some social media users coming to his defence after the clips went viral on TikTok.
“This makes me so sad that people just can’t respect who won and move on instead of trying to ruin people’s moment,” commented one, while another said: “Sad for someone to try to take away this moment from him.”
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Yet another wrote: “That’s so sad. He deserves respect, just like other artists who get on that stage.”
One surprising pillar of support came from Styles’ ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift.
The singer – who won Best Music Video for All Too Well – was one of the few standing during his acceptance speech as she clapped and cheered him on.
The pair began their whirlwind romance in December 2012 when they were seen looking cosy in New York’s Central Park. However, just one month later their relationship was over following a “heated argument” while on holiday in the Virgin Islands, Us Weekly reported at the time.
Although their romance did not last long, their brief fling reportedly inspired Swift’s songs Out Of The Woods and I Knew You Were Trouble.
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However, it seems there’s no bad blood between the pair if Swift’s show of solidarity is anything to go by.
Or she could have simply been sticking up for Styles after being triggered over her experience at the 2009 MTV VMAs, when Kanye West stormed the stage after she won Best Female Video for You Belong With Me to proclaim “Beyoncé should have won!”
“Taylor knowing exactly how he feels. i can’t imagine working hard and having people boo me for winning???” one user concluded on TikTok over her standing ovation for Styles, while another noted: “Taylor swift knows how this feels so she is supporting him.”
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