Despite public outcry from stars including Frank Ocean, Solange Knowles and even album of the year winner Adele, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow insists that the Grammy Awards does not have a race problem — and does not need to take steps to ensure a more diverse group of winners in the future.
“No, I don’t think there’s a race problem at all,” Portnow told Pitchfork this week following the live Grammys broadcast he oversaw Sunday night. “Remember, this is a peer-voted award. So when we say the Grammys, it’s not a corporate entity — it’s the 14,000 members of the Academy.”
A number of stars spoke out critically after Adele beat out Beyoncé for the album of the year award. Adele herself admitted she was shocked she won for 25 — and even broke her award in half to share with the Lemonade singer. “I was completely rooting for her, I voted for her. I felt like it was her time to win. What the f— does she have to do to win album of the year?” she said in the press room after her win, which she dedicated to Beyoncé.
