The Weeknd ends Grammy boycott with surprise performance
What's the story
Known for his philanthropic efforts, The Weeknd surprised fans with an appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday. This is despite the fact that he had decided to boycott the awards after a controversial snub in 2021. The ceremony included elements related to wildfire relief, which is in line with The Weeknd's recent donations toward the devastating LA wildfires.
Grammy performance
The Weeknd performed new songs from latest album
The ceremony kicked off with an introduction by Grammys chief Harvey Mason Jr., who acknowledged The Weeknd's past criticisms of the organization. The singer then took the stage to perform two new songs, Cry For Me and Timeless, from his newly-released album Hurry Up Tomorrow. The latter performance saw a guest appearance from Playboi Carti, who also features on the studio recording of the song.
Awards controversy
The Weeknd's previous Grammy snub led to awards overhaul
The music world was left shocked in 2020 when The Weeknd, despite his hit single Blinding Lights breaking streaming records across the globe, received no Grammy nominations. The unexpected snub led Mason Jr. to fix and rebuild the show's awards department and process. Since then, The Weeknd has opted not to submit his music for consideration at the Grammys, making his Sunday night appearance all the more surprising.
New release
'Hurry Up Tomorrow': The Weeknd's latest album and upcoming film
On Friday, The Weeknd dropped Hurry Up Tomorrow, the third and final installment of his After Hours trilogy. The album features collaborations with several artists including Lana Del Rey, Travis Scott, Future, Florence + the Machine, Giorgio Moroder, and Anitta among others. A film titled Hurry Up Tomorrow will follow in May 2025. It stars The Weeknd alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan and is directed by Trey Edward Schults for Lionsgate.
Philanthropy
The Weeknd delayed album release, donated to wildfire relief
The release of Hurry Up Tomorrow was originally planned for last week but was delayed due to the Los Angeles wildfires. Proceeds from the album track Take Me Back To LA will be donated to the LA Regional Food Bank, helping those impacted by the wildfires. In solidarity, The Weeknd canceled a concert at Pasadena's Rose Bowl and donated $1 million to the LAFD Foundation, GoFundMe's Wildfire Relief Fund, and LA Regional Food Bank.
Twitter Post
Here's a snippet from The Weeknd's electrifying act
The Weeknd makes his return to the 2025 #Grammys stage pic.twitter.com/6T2JrrA4uV
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 3, 2025