Shaboozey responds to Grammys-speech backlash: He wanted to honor his parents' sacrifices

Shaboozey has responded to the backlash implicit remarks helium made astatine the 2026 Grammy Awards.

In a connection posted connected the societal media tract X Monday, the state singer-songwriter said helium wanted to “acknowledge the conversation” spurred by his heartfelt code aft his historical Grammy triumph for state duo/group performance.

After sharing that his mother, who helium said worked “three to 4 jobs conscionable to supply for [him] and [his] 4 siblings arsenic an migrant successful this country,” had conscionable retired from a 30-year vocation arsenic a registered nurse, Shaboozey dedicated his awards to each immigrants Sunday.

While galore praised his remarks for uplifting of migrant communities astatine a clip erstwhile they are progressively being targeted by the national government, others felt the instrumentalist had overlooked the past and experiences of Native Americans and Black Americans by not mentioning them. Native Americans were forcibly removed from their lands successful the improvement of this federation and enslaved radical were brought to America involuntarily.

“To beryllium clear, I cognize and judge that we — Black people, person besides built this country,” Shaboozey wrote successful his statement. “My words were ne'er intended to disregard that truth. I americium some a Black antheral and the lad of Nigerian immigrants and successful the overwhelming infinitesimal of winning my archetypal Grammy my absorption was connected honoring the sacrifices my parents made by coming to this state to springiness maine and my siblings opportunities they ne'er had.”

The “Amen” vocalist besides acknowledged that winning his Grammy connected “the archetypal time of Black History Month and becoming the archetypal Black antheral to triumph Best Country Duo is Black history.”

“It stands connected the instauration laid by generations of Black radical who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded agelong earlier me,” Shaboozey’s connection continued. “This infinitesimal belongs to each of us.”

On the Grammys signifier Sunday, Shaboozey had concluded his code by expressing his appreciation of and enactment to each migrant communities.

“Immigrants built this country, literally,” helium said. “So this is for them. For each children of immigrants. This is besides for those who came to this state successful hunt of amended opportunity, to beryllium portion of a federation that promised state for all, and adjacent accidental to everyone consenting to enactment for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You springiness America color, I emotion y’all truthful much.”

He was conscionable 1 of galore Grammy-winning artists who straight oregon indirectly addressed the existent governmental clime regarding national migration raids successful Minnesota, wherever 2 protesters person been killed by national officers, and successful different states including California. Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Kehlani were among the others who spoke out.