Shaboozey Responds to Backlash Over Grammy Speech
After receiving criticism for his remarks during his Grammy acceptance speech, singer Shaboozey has updated his stance. He initially praised “immigrants” for building the country while accepting the award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his song “Amen,” a collaboration with Jelly Roll.
In his speech, Shaboozey dedicated the award to “children of immigrants.” However, some took issue with his comments, suggesting he overlooked the contributions of Black Americans. “This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity—a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it,” he elaborated.
Critics, including Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., expressed their concerns on social media, questioning whether contributions from enslaved Africans and their descendants were being recognized in Shaboozey’s comments.
In a tweet, King urged reflection during Black History Month, asking, “Are people including enslaved Africans, descendants of those enslaved, and Black people whose unjust, low-wage labor sustained the economy in the 1800s/1900s as immigrants when they say ‘immigrants built this country’?”
She further highlighted the historical trauma suffered by their ancestors, emphasizing that their experiences should not be overlooked, especially during discussions of freedom and justice.
Another commentator mirrored similar sentiments, pointing out that enslaved Black people did not come to America by choice but were forcibly brought and made to work under horrific conditions.
In response to the backlash, Shaboozey posted a clarification on X on February 3. “To be clear, I know and believe that we—Black people—have also built this country,” he stated.
He continued, adding, “My words were never intended to dismiss that truth. I am both a Black man and the son of Nigerian immigrants. In the overwhelming moment of winning my first Grammy, my focus was on honoring the sacrifices my parents made by coming to this country to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had.”
Shaboozey also mentioned being the first Black man to win the Grammy for Best Country Duo on the first day of Black History Month, concluding, “This moment belongs to all of us.”
