Brit Awards 2018: Music Mixes With Politics

"Where's the money for Grenfell?"

Wednesday night’s Brit Awards has kept up with the political theme that the 2018 award season has appeared to be following.

Gorrilaz frontman Damon Albarn kicked off the political statements during his acceptance speech for best British group when he made allusions to Brexit.

“This country is a lovely place, it’s part of a beautiful world, but don’t let it become isolated, don’t let yourselves be cut off,” he said.

His speech was cut off just after he made the comment, which viewers think is a bit suspicious.

One of the biggest controversies of the night was double award winning grime artist Stormzy calling out prime minister Theresa May during his closing show performance.

“Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell?” he asked the prime minister, adding that the government “just forgot about Grenfell, you criminals, and you got the cheek to call us savages, you should do some jail time, you should pay some damages, we should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.”

The artist was one of those featured on the charity single to raise money for the victims of the fire which killed 71 people in June 2017, when it broke out in the west London tower block.

Dua Lipa hailed the power of women while accepting her award for best British female artist. The New Rules chart-topper, who became the first female in the history of the Brits to be nominated for five awards and won two on the night, paid tribute to the women who have come before her as she took to the stage to accept the award.

She thanked “every single female that has been on this stage before me, that has given girls like me – not just girls in the music industry – but girls in society, a place to be inspired by, to look up and have allowed us to dream this big.”

She added: “Here’s to more women on these stages, more women winning awards and more women taking over the world.”

The entire ceremony had a political edge with many stars wearing white roses in solidarity with the Time’s Up and #Metoo movements highlighting sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

 

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