US pop star Ariana Grande has publicly accused the chief organiser of the Grammy Awards of lying about the reason for her absence from this year’s ceremony.
Producer Ken Ehrlich told the Associated Press that Grande had cancelled her performance at the awards show this Sunday because she “felt it was too late for her to pull something together”.
The comments have drawn an indignant response from the God Is A Woman singer, who had previously remained silent about why she pulled out.
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“I’ve kept my mouth shut but now you’re lying about me,” Grande tweeted last night. “I can pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken.”
The singer - whose latest album, Thank U, Next, drops today - claimed that she had offered to perform three different songs but ultimately failed to reach an agreement with the show’s organisers.
“It was when my creativity & self expression was stifled by you, that I decided not to attend,” she wrote, adding: “I hope the show is exactly what you want it to be and more.”
In a later tweet, she elaborated on her decision, saying: “It’s about feeling supported. It’s about art and honesty. Not politics. Not doing favors or playing games. It’s just a game y’all... and I’m sorry but that’s not what music is to me.”
Earlier this week, Variety reported that Grande had felt “insulted” when producers turned down her request to perform her latest single, 7 Rings.
“While they reached a compromise in which 7 Rings would be part of a medley, producers insisted that the second song would be their choice, which caused Grande to pull out altogether,” the showbusiness magazine reports.
Ehrlich declined to comment when approached by Variety.
“Grande’s recent music has broken records and dominated pop culture in recent months,” says Entertainment Weekly. Yet she is only nominated in two categories at this year’s Grammy Awards, for Best Solo Pop Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Even without Grande, Sunday’s show will not lack for stars, with Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Post Malone, Diana Ross and Dolly Parton all slated to perform.
