Top 10 Celeb Reactions to Losing at Awards Shows
#10: Faith Hill’s Exaggerated Reaction to Carrie Underwood’s CMA Win
Was it a silly salute or was Faith throwing shade? The country music community was shocked when she lost the CMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year to “American Idol” alumna and then-rising country superstar, Carrie Underwood, in 2006. The clip from the ceremony that featured Hill tossing her hands in the air and mouthing "WHAT?" became a notable example of a playful split-second decision becoming a highly scrutinized moment during the early viral video era. In an interview, Hill attributed its accessibility and popularity to “The YouTube.” Despite Hill's numerous explanations and Underwood's understanding, the moment became an example of the era's unquenchable thirst for celebrity gossip. Nothing to see here, folks!
#9: 50 Cent Takes a Lap Around the Stage
Top 10 Celeb Reactions to Winning at Awards Shows
There are multiple types of walks seen at award shows: there’s the victory walk, walk of shame following a loss, and then whatever it is 50 Cent did during the 2004 Grammys! 50 Cent was nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy, but lost to alt-rock group Evanescence. As lead singer Amy Lee began Evanescence’s acceptance speech, 50 Cent appeared on stage and walked around behind the confused band. The lasting impact of 50's loss helped fuel the conversation around how in touch with the music industry the Grammys really are - a subject 50's longtime friend Eminem feels passionate about. 50 himself poked fun at his loss during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony years later, subtly acknowledging his lasting cultural relevance. Your move, Grammys!
#8: Spike Lee’s Subtle Speak-Out
Sometimes subtlety speaks volumes. When director Spike Lee's film "Black KkKlansman" lost the Best Picture Oscar in 2019 to Peter Farrelly's "Green Book," he allegedly tried to leave the ceremony in protest but was halted by employees. Instead of explicitly tearing the winning film apart in the press room, he channeled his anger into celebrating his film's brutally honest portrayal of what it was like to be a Black detective in the 1970s going against the KKK. Lee expressed his frustration by saying, "Whether we won Best Picture or not, this film will stand the test of time being on the right side of history." Lee's response and refusal to blatantly criticize "Green Book" stood out for his ability to fully express himself without making room for a spectacle, which is what often happens.
#7: Piers Morgan Is Peeved Over Not Being the Center of Attention
Ah, Piers Morgan: love him or hate him, you have to admit the man knows how to speak his mind! No stranger to heated reactions, Morgan, who is a former host on the British breakfast program “Good Morning Britain,” didn’t hesitate to let the world know how he felt when their competitor “This Morning” took home the Daytime National Television Award in 2019. Morgan felt sour enough over the loss to the point of using some of his appearance on “This Morning” to complain. Morgan's sense of self-awareness and his willingness to acknowledge his bruised ego were definitely rare to see among notable award show losers. Better luck next time, Piers?
#6: Ol' Dirty Bastard ‘Pulling a Kanye’ Over Wu-Tang Clan Loss
Hip-hop masterminds Wu-Tang Clan have been longtime proponents of equality and advocating for hip-hop’s recognition within the Recording Academy. The latter was exactly what founding Wu-Tang clan member, the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, wanted to do when he suddenly appeared on stage at the 1998 Grammys’ during the Song of the Year award presentation. The sequence of events was a little confusing. Wu-Tang were nominated for the non-televised Best Rap Album, but viewers saw ‘ODB’ randomly take the microphone while Shawn Colvin was on-stage and begin explaining why his group was a better fit to win than Sean "Puffy" Combs. Nevertheless, ODB's brash decision perfectly captured the urgency of his message and was memorable for its middle finger to the Academy's rigid commitment to establishment and order.
#5: Kacey Musgraves Reacts Blankly to Miranda Lambert’s Victory
Was she “Happy and sad at the same time?” After Kacey Musgraves’ one-time songwriting partner Miranda Lambert won the CMA award for Female Vocalist Of The Year, cameras caught Musgraves giving a deadpan reaction as Lambert thanked each of the nominees for their contributions. Musgraves later addressed the speculation behind her reaction, joking “If anyone should be offended, it should be me! I mean, did you see my face?” At the time of the 2013 ceremony, Musgraves was a newcomer to award season, and many weren’t familiar with her signature laid-back personality yet. Her candid reaction made her an ideal candidate to be scrutinized in a perfection-obsessed celebrity culture, but Musgraves paid no mind and continued following her arrow!
#4: Tim Commerford ‘Rages’ Against the Corporate Machine
Top 10 Celeb Reactions to Winning at Awards Shows
It’s pretty well-known that Rage Against The Machine aren’t afraid to speak their minds. Some of their beliefs are more apparent and can be found within their lyrics. Others are subtle, like bass player Tim Commerford’s attempt to protest the band’s loss to Limp Bizkit for Best Rock Video at the 2000 VMAs. After Limp Bizkit were proclaimed as winners, Commerford sneakily climbed up an intricately-made set piece, refusing to leave. While Commerford later expressed his upset over RATM's loss, his silent act of protest was memorable for speaking volumes about his feelings without explicitly sharing them, as well as for stealing the show. The incident also resulted in multiple consequences, from jail time to causing the band’s vocalist Zack de la Rocha to leave the ceremony. It may have even factored into Rocha announcing his departure from the band.
#3: Metallica Refuses to Give Flutes Any “Justice”
It would be more likely to see progressive rock legends Jethro Tull and metal veterans Metallica together in someone’s music collection. But the two bands nominated for an award in the same category? Not so much. Metallica and Jethro Tull were nominated for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Vocal Performance Grammy in 1989 - the only year the award was presented - with the latter group winning the award. One might think fan favorites Metallica would be angry over this upset in Grammy history. However, the band’s choice to poke fun at their controversial loss during their Grammy win a few years later, and ex-bassist Jason Newsted’s humble stance that the band’s inclusion in the ceremony would be the most memorable factor, were what really stood out against rampant fan criticism.
#2: Kanye West Would Like to Say a Few Words
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When hearing the phrase “Pulling a Kanye,” it’s fair to assume it’s in reference to an incident featuring a certain popstar at the 2009 VMAs - but as it turns out, Kanye West had a bit of practice storming stages three years earlier. At the 2006 MTV European Music Awards, West hopped on stage after being beat by the Justice and Simian collaboration “We Are Your Friends.” He delivered an expletive-filled rant where he explained why he believed his “Touch The Sky” video should’ve won. While this particular moment in West's career showcases how seriously he values his craftsmanship, it also shows an example of what can happen when Ye takes himself too seriously, now earning himself a reputation for award show snafus. What would Beyonce think?
#1: Taylor Swift Sees ‘Red’ Over Grammy Loss
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It’s no secret Taylor Swift knows the feeling of winning awards ‘all too well,’ but there came a time when Taylor and her team experienced a ‘red’-faced worthy moment at the 2014 Grammys. Swift’s fourth album “Red” was nominated for Album of the Year alongside Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories.” As presenter Alicia Keys pronounced the first syllable of the word “Random,” Swift and her team collectively gasped, thinking “Red” had won. The heartbroken Swift beautifully recovered from the moment that would later inspire her to completely change the direction of her career. By seizing the opportunity to turn what happened with “Red” into more monumental career success with her crossover classic “1989,” Taylor Swift showed the world how award show losses can inspire career-defining gains!
