5 Shocking Twists In The Weeknd's Grammy Saga: The 2025 Comeback And Immediate Snub

The Weeknd’s tumultuous relationship with the Grammy Awards took its most dramatic turn yet in early 2025, a saga that continues to captivate and frustrate the music industry. The artist, born Abel Tesfaye, shocked the world by ending his years-long, high-profile boycott with a surprise performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025. This move was widely seen as a public mending of fences with the Recording Academy, yet the peace was immediately shattered by a glaring omission that echoed his infamous 2021 snub. The narrative of the superstar versus the establishment remains the most compelling, and confusing, story in modern music accolades. This comprehensive look at the "Starboy" singer's ongoing Grammy war details the original controversy, the unexpected 2025 return, the immediate fresh snub, and what this all means for his music and the future of the awards show itself. The latest developments prove that even after years of internal changes, the Recording Academy still struggles to align with one of the world's most critically and commercially successful artists.

The Weeknd: A Brief Biography & Grammy History

The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. His work is widely recognized for its atmospheric, dark R&B sound, often incorporating elements of trap, pop, and new wave.

• Full Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
• Born: February 16, 1990 (Age 35 as of late 2025)
• Origin: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Breakthrough Albums: *Kiss Land* (2013), *Beauty Behind the Madness* (2015), *Starboy* (2016), *After Hours* (2020), *Dawn FM* (2022), *Hurry Up Tomorrow* (2025)
• Total Grammy Wins (Pre-Boycott): 4 (including Best Urban Contemporary Album for *Beauty Behind the Madness* and *Starboy*, and Best R&B Performance for "Earned It")
• Total Grammy Nominations (Pre-Boycott): 13
• Key Collaborations: Daft Punk, Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Playboi Carti

Despite his multiple Grammy wins, Tesfaye's relationship with the Recording Academy has been defined by the awards he *didn't* receive. His early success cemented him as a critical darling, but the commercial peak of his career led to a massive and public falling out with the institution.

The 2021 Snub That Launched a Boycott (The *After Hours* Era)

The seeds of The Weeknd's long-running feud were sown in November 2020, leading up to the 63rd Grammy Awards. His 2020 album, *After Hours*, and its record-breaking single, "Blinding Lights," were considered near-locks for major nominations, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. "Blinding Lights" was a global phenomenon, breaking records for chart longevity and streaming numbers worldwide. The shock was palpable across the industry when the nominations were announced: The Weeknd received *zero* nominations. This complete shutout was one of the most significant snubs in Grammy history, affecting a project that was both critically acclaimed and commercially dominant. Tesfaye publicly denounced the Recording Academy, calling them "corrupt" and vowing to never submit his music for consideration again. In March 2021, he officially announced that he would be boycotting the awards, declaring he would no longer allow his label to submit his music to the Grammys. This decision was a direct and powerful protest against what he perceived as a flawed and opaque voting process, which he felt favored behind-the-scenes politics over artistic merit. The snub even prompted the Academy to make changes to its process, including eliminating the controversial "secret committees" that had the power to override voters' choices.

The Shocking 2025 Return: Amends Made, But Not Rewarded

The music world was stunned on February 2, 2025, when The Weeknd made a surprise appearance at the 67th Grammy Awards. This marked the end of his four-year boycott, signaling that he and the Recording Academy had seemingly mended their fractured relationship. He performed his new song, "Cry For Me," from his recently released album, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*, wearing his signature hooded cloak. The surprise performance was a clear indication that a truce had been called, with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. publicly stating that they had "made amends." The timing was crucial: Tesfaye had just released his highly anticipated album, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*, mere days before the awards ceremony. Fans and critics alike saw the performance as a hopeful sign—a return to the fold that would surely lead to nominations in the next cycle. However, the drama was far from over. Despite his public reconciliation and the release of his new music, The Weeknd was once again completely shut out of the Grammy nominations for the 2025 show. The album *Hurry Up Tomorrow* received zero nominations, a surprising snub that extended his awards drought and immediately overshadowed the goodwill of his surprise performance. This bizarre sequence of events—performing at the show after years of protest, only to be immediately snubbed again—reignited the debate over the Academy's true intentions and the effectiveness of its recent rule changes.

The Complex Industry Reaction and Future Outlook

The 2025 snub, coming right after the end of the boycott, was arguably more perplexing than the 2021 incident. The *After Hours* snub was a controversy of omission; the *Hurry Up Tomorrow* snub felt like a controversy of contradiction. Why would the Recording Academy invite an artist back for a high-profile performance, only to deny him any recognition for his latest work? One explanation is the timing. His album, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*, was released very close to the 2025 ceremony, meaning it was likely not eligible for the 67th Grammys. However, the optics of the situation—a grand reconciliation followed by a complete shutout—were undeniably poor. Critics and fans pointed out that the snub extended The Weeknd's "awards drought," suggesting that his initial protest was, perhaps, more justified than the Academy wished to admit. The focus now shifts immediately to the 2026 Grammy Awards. Sources indicate that The Weeknd has already submitted his latest album, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*, for consideration at the 68th GRAMMY Awards. This submission, following his public return, suggests that Tesfaye is willing to re-engage with the process, but the pressure is now squarely on the Recording Academy. If *Hurry Up Tomorrow*—an album that is already generating significant buzz and LSI keyword discussion—is once again ignored, it would likely cement the perception that the Academy has a fundamental, irreconcilable issue with The Weeknd's art or influence. Conversely, a major nomination for Album of the Year or Record of the Year would finally validate the Academy's claim of having reformed its voting process and truly mended its relationship with one of the biggest stars in the world. The 2026 nominations will serve as the ultimate litmus test for the integrity and relevance of the Grammy Awards.

Key Entities and Topical Authority in The Weeknd's Grammy Story

The ongoing saga involves a host of key players, albums, and concepts that define the modern music awards landscape, giving this topic significant topical authority. The core entities include:

• Abel Tesfaye: The artist at the center of the conflict.
• The Recording Academy: The organization responsible for the Grammy Awards.
• Harvey Mason Jr.: The CEO who publicly worked to mend the relationship.
• *After Hours* (2020): The critically acclaimed album whose snub started the boycott.
• *Blinding Lights*: The record-breaking single that was completely ignored.
• *Hurry Up Tomorrow* (2025): The new album released upon his return, which was immediately snubbed.
• "Cry For Me": The new song The Weeknd performed at the 2025 ceremony.
• 67th Grammy Awards: The 2025 show where the boycott officially ended.
• Grammy Boycott: The four-year protest against the awards show.
• Secret Committees: The controversial voting groups that were eliminated after the 2021 controversy.
• Drake: Another major artist who has had a complicated relationship with the Grammys and also submitted for the 2026 awards.
• Pop Music Landscape: The broader context of how commercial success is validated by critical awards.
• Alternative R&B: The genre often associated with The Weeknd's sound.
• Dawn FM (2022): The album released during the boycott period.
• Super Bowl Halftime Show: A major performance that followed his 2021 snub, showcasing his continued global dominance without Grammy validation.

This turbulent history ensures that every move by The Weeknd or the Recording Academy will be scrutinized, making the "Grammy Snub" a permanent, defining chapter in the artist's legacy.

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