© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Grammy Awards producer tells musicians he wants them to get political during awards ceremony
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 26: Rappers Ryan Lewis (L) and Macklemore accept the Best New Artist award onstage during the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Grammy Awards producer tells musicians he wants them to get political during awards ceremony

Longtime Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich says he welcomes musicians going "off script" during the awards ceremony on Sunday to speak their minds about politics and President Donald Trump.

"One of the tenets of our show is artistic freedom, and over the years we've shown we do believe in it," Ehrlich told Variety in an interview Friday.

"How many more times do we need to hear ‘I’d like to thank my publicist, my agent, my wife and kids,'" he added. "The great acceptance speeches are ones that have a point of view and are more personal."

In fact, Ehrlich told the magazine that the speeches only have one restriction: they can't have profanity, given the 3.5 hour long awards ceremony is being broadcasted by CBS.

"One of the things I’ve learned from working with artists for 40 years is that they are deep-thinking, vital individuals who have interests that cover a broad cover a broad spectrum of subjects and passions," he explained. "We should certainly allow for it on the broadcast."

But politics during the Grammy Awards show is nothing new. More from Variety:

In 2014, rapper Macklemore was given a big showcase for his plea to end homophobia and misogny in hip-hop. The same telecast featured en masse weddings of 33 gay and straight couples to make a statement about same-sex marriage. The following year, the Grammycast focused on the problem of rape on college campuses, giving a rape survivor chance to address the audience, followed by a video from President Obama and a performance by Katy Perry.

But so far in 2017, celebrities and musicians have proved they will be outspoken in their political beliefs at every given opportunity.

A whole host of celebrities bashed Trump at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards in late January, which came just a few days after Trump signed his controversial executive order on immigration and refugees.

And earlier in January, celebrities also bashed Trump at the Golden Globes Award show. It was actress Meryl Streep who made headlines for her monologue ripping Trump as a "bully."

Ehrlich has been producing the Grammys for 37 years and is signed through 2020 to continue doing so.

Want to leave a tip?

We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?