Harry Styles sparks debate after claiming 'this doesn't happen to people like me' in Grammys speech

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By Nasima Khatun

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Harry Styles' speech at the Grammys has recently ignited a conversation around privilege and it seems as though some people have a bone to pick with the singer.

The 29-year-old hit a major career milestone on Sunday night during the 65th installment of the Grammy Awards when he was awarded the coveted Album of the Year award for Harry's House.

Styles went up against other major artists in the industry including ABBA, Adele, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, and Coldplay - an impressive line-up indeed.

Taking to the stage, the 'Sign Of The Times' hitmaker gave a speech to mark his first solo Grammy win saying: "I've been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me and [during] a lot of times in my life, I listened to everyone in this category..."

Check out Styles' acceptance speech here:

He then went on to say that "...On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember there’s no such thing as best in music," before adding: "I don’t think any of us sit in the studio making decisions based on what is gonna get us one of these. This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful."

However, the next part of his speech seemingly ruffled a few feathers as the British-born artist claimed that "this doesn’t happen to people like me very often and this is so, so nice.

"Thank you very much."

Fans took to Twitter to criticize Styles for his "ignorant" comment, stating that being a white man in the industry gives him an upper hand against his competitors.

"Saying 'this doesn’t happen to people like me very often' when a Black woman hasn't won that award since 1999 is crazy lol," tweeted writer, Ashley K. Smalls.

"When Harry Styles says 'this doesn't happen to people like me very often' does he think 'annoying' is a minority group?" said another.

A third added: "'This doesn’t happen to people like me' is the most white privilege-iest thing to ever be uttered at an awards show ever for all time."

Someone else even pointed out that Adele's expression allegedly changed when she heard him make that comment.

"Adeles face immediately softening as soon as harry said 'this doesn’t happen to people like me very often' she knows," the commenter remarked.

And this user added that no matter what he was referring to, it was an "ignorant" comment to make.

"During his acceptance speech, he said 'this doesn't happen to people like me very often' and i don't think he was referring to his being a cis white man, but the fact is he IS a cis white man, an overrepresented and overhyped population, so it's still an ignorant thing to say," they wrote.

However, others jumped to the singer's defence, stating that he wasn't actually referring to those privileged qualities, instead he was either referring to his "queerness" or his background coming from a small town.

"It’s so ignorant that people including some of harry’s own fans make 'this doesn’t happen to people like me very often' about coming from a small rural town with no connections. Harry is QUEER. this is the message here. i beg people to develop a functioning braincell."

Another also has a similar response: "Far be it for me to defend a white dude but I think ppl forget Harry came from a single parent working class family in a country with zero social mobility whose entertainment industry is dominated by the middle classes. I get it! (probably not the time to say it tho)."

Styles was nominated in six categories total, including: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Music Video for 'As It Was'.

wp-image-1263193578 size-large
Harry Styles arriving to the 65th GRAMMY Awards held at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles. Credit: AFF / Alamy

The award show saw the former boyband member step out in a rainbow patchwork Egonlab jumpsuit covered in Swarovski crystals - a look that only a man as powerful as Styles could rock.

Featured Image Credit: UPI / Alamy

Harry Styles sparks debate after claiming 'this doesn't happen to people like me' in Grammys speech

vt-author-image

By Nasima Khatun

Article saved!Article saved!

Harry Styles' speech at the Grammys has recently ignited a conversation around privilege and it seems as though some people have a bone to pick with the singer.

The 29-year-old hit a major career milestone on Sunday night during the 65th installment of the Grammy Awards when he was awarded the coveted Album of the Year award for Harry's House.

Styles went up against other major artists in the industry including ABBA, Adele, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, and Coldplay - an impressive line-up indeed.

Taking to the stage, the 'Sign Of The Times' hitmaker gave a speech to mark his first solo Grammy win saying: "I've been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me and [during] a lot of times in my life, I listened to everyone in this category..."

Check out Styles' acceptance speech here:

He then went on to say that "...On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember there’s no such thing as best in music," before adding: "I don’t think any of us sit in the studio making decisions based on what is gonna get us one of these. This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful."

However, the next part of his speech seemingly ruffled a few feathers as the British-born artist claimed that "this doesn’t happen to people like me very often and this is so, so nice.

"Thank you very much."

Fans took to Twitter to criticize Styles for his "ignorant" comment, stating that being a white man in the industry gives him an upper hand against his competitors.

"Saying 'this doesn’t happen to people like me very often' when a Black woman hasn't won that award since 1999 is crazy lol," tweeted writer, Ashley K. Smalls.

"When Harry Styles says 'this doesn't happen to people like me very often' does he think 'annoying' is a minority group?" said another.

A third added: "'This doesn’t happen to people like me' is the most white privilege-iest thing to ever be uttered at an awards show ever for all time."

Someone else even pointed out that Adele's expression allegedly changed when she heard him make that comment.

"Adeles face immediately softening as soon as harry said 'this doesn’t happen to people like me very often' she knows," the commenter remarked.

And this user added that no matter what he was referring to, it was an "ignorant" comment to make.

"During his acceptance speech, he said 'this doesn't happen to people like me very often' and i don't think he was referring to his being a cis white man, but the fact is he IS a cis white man, an overrepresented and overhyped population, so it's still an ignorant thing to say," they wrote.

However, others jumped to the singer's defence, stating that he wasn't actually referring to those privileged qualities, instead he was either referring to his "queerness" or his background coming from a small town.

"It’s so ignorant that people including some of harry’s own fans make 'this doesn’t happen to people like me very often' about coming from a small rural town with no connections. Harry is QUEER. this is the message here. i beg people to develop a functioning braincell."

Another also has a similar response: "Far be it for me to defend a white dude but I think ppl forget Harry came from a single parent working class family in a country with zero social mobility whose entertainment industry is dominated by the middle classes. I get it! (probably not the time to say it tho)."

Styles was nominated in six categories total, including: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Music Video for 'As It Was'.

wp-image-1263193578 size-large
Harry Styles arriving to the 65th GRAMMY Awards held at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles. Credit: AFF / Alamy

The award show saw the former boyband member step out in a rainbow patchwork Egonlab jumpsuit covered in Swarovski crystals - a look that only a man as powerful as Styles could rock.

Featured Image Credit: UPI / Alamy