The Weeknd Returns to the Grammys Stage After Years of Boycotting Due to ‘Corrupt’ Committees

The Weeknd made a surprise return to the Grammy stage after boycotting the award show four years ago. In 2021, the singer stated he was no longer allowing his record label to submit his work to the organization due to the “secret committees,” snubbing him out of any nominations for his album After Hours.

One year later, after the Grammys announced they were removing the committees, the “Blinding Lights” singer stood by his decision to continue boycotting the awards.

He stated, “Even though I won’t be submitting my music, the Grammys’ recent admission of corruption will hopefully be a positive move for the future of this plagued award and give the artist community the respect it deserves with a transparent voting process.” 

This year, however, the Recording Academy has teased a surprise guest ahead of the sixty-seventh annual ceremony, leaving fans baffled – with some of the biggest names in music already confirmed to attend, who can the special guest be?

A little more than halfway into the night, host Trevor Noah invited Grammy CEO Harvey Jay Mason Jr. to the stage, who then recalled the morning he read the headlines of The Weeknd’s call-out—going as far as making a PowerPoint of all the news clippings. Mason knew he needed to make changes to the academy, implementing a number of programs.

“Over the past few years, we’ve listened, acted, and changed,” the CEO discussed.

only the weeknd can publicly call out the grammys and still pull up to deliver the best performance of the night pic.twitter.com/FSgx6G8dKs

— (@kissl6nds) February 3, 2025

Citing that the two have made amends, the Grammy CEO welcomed to the stage none other than The Weeknd himself. Backed by screaming fans in the crowd (and at home), the singer performed “Cry for Me,” off his new album Hurry Up Tomorrow. Along with Playboi Carti and a troupe of dancers dressed from head to toe in red cloth, the artist brought the house down. 

my reaction when I saw the weeknd pop out #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/mJuZg39NXH

— bear (@oplivio) February 3, 2025

Hurry Up Tomorrow is the final installment in his latest trilogy, beginning with After Hours in 2020, Dawn FM in 2022, and now HUT. This new project also marks the final era in which the artist will go by his stage name, “The Weeknd,” as he plans to move forward as “Abel.”

CRY FOR ME LIVE AT THE GRAMMYS THE WEEKND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUSSSS pic.twitter.com/nY11BQM5pn

— King Wow (@wowthatshiphop) February 3, 2025

His performance is a clear indicator that The Weeknd is a force in the music industry, and his voice led to a reconstruction in the way the academy votes.

You can rewatch The Weeknd’s surprise Grammy performance on Paramount+.