The Weeknd Concludes Grammy Boycott with Surprise Performance

The Long-Term Boycott Comes to an End

The Grammy Awards concluded, acknowledging a wide array of talent.

• Read more: The Weeknd- “Hurry Tomorrow.” Review: superstar filling the stadium is preparing to move on

In 2021, The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfai) declared a boycott against the Grammys, preventing his label from submitting his music for award considerations. This decision followed his exclusion from nominations that year, despite the release of his well-known album “After Hours” in 2020.

At that time, he expressed his frustrations on Twitter, stating that the Grammys “remain corrupt,” claiming that the organization should be accountable to him, his fans, and the transparency of the music industry. However, the Canadian pop star’s boycott has now come to a conclusion.

Unexpected Performance at the Grammys

During the 67th Grammy Awards, The Weeknd surprised many with a performance, singing “Cry for Me” and “Timeless,” where he was later joined by Playboi Carti.

In response to The Weeknd’s criticisms and his call for greater “transparency,” Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed the audience during the ceremony, stating, “Criticism is fine. I heard him and felt his conviction. All that we want is an organization dedicated to the well-being of all musicians, one that reflects the entire musical community for future generations. We have listened, we acted, and we have changed.”

Mason went on to detail some of the changes implemented, including initiatives like the Black Music Collective, Women in the Mix, the Proud Academy, and more.

“As we saw tonight, music is a powerful force in the world,” he continued. “It heals us … it unites us. We need it in this city right now. With that in mind, on a truly special night, it is my great honor to introduce an artist who has been a tremendous supporter of this academy: my friends, my fellow musicians—please welcome back, none other than the Grammy-winning global superstar, The Weeknd.”

Complete performance by Weeknd on The Grammys Tonight!

With special guest appearance from Playboi Carti pic.twitter.com/wqeivxf8q2

– 💀 (@Mementomorixo) February 3, 2025

In a four-star review of The Weeknd’s “Hurry Tomorrow,” Nick Levin of NME wrote: “If this is a swan song for The Weeknd, it is fitting. Tesfai moves forward before he exhausts the collective interest in his alter ego, and that’s no small feat. When he sings “I would prefer to leave a few legacies” in the song “Abyss,” it is clear that he is contemplating something significant.

In other Grammy news, Chappell Roan was honored as the best new artist, while Doechii took home the award for best rap album. Kendrick Lamar secured both the best rap song and best music video awards for “Not Like Us,” and Beyoncé received the Best Country Album award for “Kotoy Carter.” For a complete list of winners, click here.