The View moderator Whoopi Goldberg weighed in on the Grammys controversy over Beyoncé never winning in the coveted Album of the Year category despite having 32 Grammys, saying "It doesn't matter."
On Sunday night, the Album of the Year gramophone was awarded to Taylor Swift, which was the proverbial cherry on top of an already phenomenal year for the artist who broke records with her sold-out Eras Tour and the subsequent Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie, which became the highest-grossing concert film of all time.
This Grammy win made Swift the only artist to have won in the category four times, surpassing the record set by three-time Album of the Year recipients Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon.
This year, Queen Bey was not nominated for Album of the Year, which prompted her hubby Jay Z to call out the Recording Academy for snubbing his wife during his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre Global Impact award.
The "Empire State of Mind" rapper noted that while advancements were made with the inclusion of the hip-hop community at the Grammys, there was still room for improvement.
“At least get it close to right, and obviously it’s subjective because it’s music and it’s opinion-based," he said.
Jay Z then commented:
"I don’t want to embarrass this young lady but she has more Grammys than everyone but never won Album of the Year."
"So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work."
He added:
“Think about that. The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year, and you know, some of you will go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in a category.”
In response to the speech, The View co-host Sara Haines told Goldberg that Jay Z had a very "powerful point."
Haines explained that the term "snub" historically insinuated that an award recipient "wasn't worthy of the award."
She continued, saying of Jay Z:
“I thought he did the perfect thing because this was a year where Beyonce wasn’t up for Best Album. So what he’s saying is from the outside, be aware, because progress has happened in a lot of ways.”
Haines noted that in the past, the Grammys would often lump hip-hop, rap, and R&B into one category.
"He’s accepting a Global Impact Award," she reiterated.
"That is the time to say things have changed. They don’t always get it right, but let’s keep our eyes open."
"Like, that’s where progress is made. And I thought it was so powerful and beautiful.”
You can watch the full segment here.
Co-Hosts React To 66th Annual Grammy Awards | The Viewyoutu.be
As the topic drifted to other highlights from the awards ceremony, co-host Sunny Hostin brought it back by asking what Goldberg's thoughts were.
Goldberg won a Grammy in 1985 for Best Comedy Recording for her one-woman show Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway, an achievement Hostin made sure to mention since Goldberg was the "only one at this table who has a Grammy."
Before giving the floor to Goldberg, Hostin commended Jay Z for his "courage" to discuss the snub for his wife, adding that she likes it when couples who've had "tumultuous" relationships defend each other in moments like this.
But Hostin maintained there was a discrepancy in terms of "who this country decides as the pop princess" or "who this country makes that determination for and sometimes, I don't think this country gets it right."
Goldberg said Bey not having an Album of the Year award is not a big deal considering the Renaissance artist already has 32 Grammys.
Said Goldberg:
“Well, she's got 38 [sic.] So I kind of appreciate all of that. And they’re not for just one thing. So, for me, she is—it doesn’t matter if they give her that album."
"I mean, and listen, it’s subjective. People are voting. You can’t determine who’s doing it, unless you’re the person voting."
"So, I think 38 [sic] is kind of not a terrible number!”
Social media users agreed that Bey's impressive accolades were nothing to scoff at, and they thought Jay Z's speech minimized the achievement of those who were recognized at the ceremony.
Goldberg ended on a positive note by expressing gratitude for the Grammys' celebration of creativity.
She said of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift:
“They are these superhuman women who do this extraordinary thing, so I’m not mad at anybody for anything that’s happening, because we’re taking these women—we’re not hiding them."
"We’re saying here’s what women are doing. And they’re black, and they’re white, and they’re Asian, they’re Spanish. They’re all kinds of stuff."
"So, I’m grateful. I know what it takes to do what you got to do.”
Word.
