Music’s biggest stars dazzled on the red carpet last night for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, many of them wearing a symbolic white rose in solidarity with the Time’s Up and Me Too Movements.
However several celebrities noticeably chose to forego the flower, including rapper Rick Ross, John Legend, Big Sean, and Childish Gambino.
The award ceremony protest saw a myriad of artists including Kesha, Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Rita Ora, Sting, and Sam Smith take to the spotlight wearing their roses, as well as two female music executives, and raised question to those artists that decided against wearing, or even holding, the rose.
No-show: Rapper Rick Ross, 42, looked dapper on the red carpet, but noticeably without the Times Up movement white rose donned by most celebrities at the Grammy Awards
Time’s Up: Big Sean also took to the 60th Grammy Awards choosing to forgo the white rose
All white, no rose: Childish Gambino looked slick in a white tuxedo, but without a white rose in his lapel to support the Me Too and Times Up movement
Several male musical artists decided against joining the crowd including Lil Uzi Vert, DJ Khaled, Common, and John Legend.
The decision of several artists to forgo the flower has drawn attention to the misogynistic and sexism loaded lyrics of several stars, particularly Rick Ross, Big Sean, and Childish Gambino.
Rick Ross has been publicly punished for his problematic lyrics in his song U.O.E.N.O in 2013, and was dropped by a deal with Reebok for his lyrics about drugging and sexually assaulting a woman.
Big Sean’s decision also raised eyebrows towards his offense in 2011 when he was arrested in Buffalo, New York and charged with unlawful imprisonment of a 17-year-old girl.
Grammy nominated rapper Tyler the Creator has also been criticized for his lyrics that say ‘rape a pregnant b**** and tell my friends I had a threesome’.
Childish Gambino, also nominated last night, has been under fire for his lyrics such as ‘p**** open sesame’ amongst others.
Elton John, Jaden Smith, Rihanna, Katie Holmes, and Ashanti also decided to forgo the symbolic roses at the award ceremony.
Kesha took to the stage for a heartfelt performance of her single Prayer, written about the alleged abuse she suffered from her producer Lukasz ‘Dr. Luke’ Gottwald. The artist burst into tears during her performance and fell into the arms of fellow supporting crooners Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha, and Cyndi Lauper.
Her moment: Kesha, performing above, led a charge of celebrities wearing the white rose and protesting against sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry
Bodak Yellow: Bronx Rapper Cardi B took to the carpet holding her white rose in hand
Lady of the evening: Lady Gaga looked regal in black and donned the white flower and is one of the loudest voices against sexual abuse and harassment in the industry
American idol: Kelly Clarkson also decided to hold the delicate flower in hand to show support
After her emotional performance, the Tik Tok singer took to Twitter to thank her supporters, on and off stage.
‘After everything you’ve done I can thank you for how strong I have become,’ she tweeted.
‘Thank you to the @RecordingAcad, the women on stage with me tonight, and everyone who has supported me through this whole journey,’ she added.
Just before her performance, Tightrope singer Janelle Monae welcomed her to the stage, donning a floral suit and white rose in, and speaking out about the movement’s battle against sexual harassment and abuse in and out of the industry.
‘Tonight, I am proud to stand in solidarity as not just an artist, but a young woman, with my fellow sisters in this room who make up the music industry — artists, writers, assistants, publicists, CEOs, producers, engineers, and women from all sectors of the business,’ she said.
‘We are also daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and human beings. To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: #Timesup. We say Time’s Up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power.’
‘We come in peace, but we mean business. It’s not just going on in Hollywood, or in Washington, it’s right here in our industry as well,’ she added.
‘And just as we have the just as we have the power to shape culture, we also have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well. So, let’s work together, women and men, as a united music industry committed to creating more safe work environments, equal pay, and access for all women.
The flowers set the tone for the very political award ceremony that saw many give speeches against sexual harassment and Camila Cabello also speak out against DACA, dedicating her award to Dreamers.