Tiffany Haddish is known for speaking her mind even when it has to do with Beyoncé and face significant backlash.
Earlier today, the actress did what she does best — drop a bombshell. Haddish explained that the Grammys disrespected her.
The Girls Trip star revealed that she was asked to host the Grammys pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony without pay.
To add insult to injury, Haddish was told by the Recording Academy not only she had to do the three-hour event without getting any money, but she also had to pay for her own hair, makeup, and stylist.
The Last O.G. actress was quick to turn down the on-air opportunity upon hearing the unappealing requirement.
In a shocking interview with Variety, the outspoken comedian confessed: “All of that would have to come out of my pocket. I don’t know if this might mean I might not get nominated ever again, but I think it’s disrespectful.”
The former The Carmichael Show actress went on to share: “I was like, ‘The exposure is amazing, but I think I have enough. I appreciate you guys asking. And as much as I appreciate the honor of being nominated, that’s not okay.”
The interview pushed the Recording Academy to issue a statement explaining to Variety that “all hosts, presenters, and performers have traditionally performed gratis, including this year.”
The company also revealed that Haddish would not be punished for her decision. The popular funnywoman received a nomination for best comedy album for Netflix’s Black Mitzvah.
The Recording Academy, which is facing a PR nightmare, has issued an emotional apology to the author for the way they handled the situation.
Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy Interim President and CEO, shared a now-viral video on Instagram on Thursday morning apologizing to Haddish.
Mason seems to blame the talent booker for the cacophony. He shared: “To me, that was wrong. I’m frustrated by that decision. It was a lapse in judgment, it was in poor taste, and it was disrespectful to the creative community. I’m part of the creative community. I know what that feels like, and it’s not right.”
He added: “I apologized to her personally, and I apologized to her from the academy; I expressed to her my regret and my displeasure about how this went down and about how this was handled. Again, I want to say, Tiffany, we are sorry, and thank you for allowing me to speak on it.”
It is not known if efforts will be made for the next host of Grammys pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony to receive compensation. The 2021 ceremony will take place on January 31.
