The Recording Academy has apologized to Tiffany Haddish after the comedian called out the Grammys for inviting her to host a ceremony but refusing to pay for her time, hair, makeup, or wardrobe.
Haddish, nominated for 2021 best comedy album, spoke out in a Variety interview published Wednesday revealing she turned down an offer to host the Grammys pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony because she was told she would have to pay for all expenses related to the three-hour Livestream event herself without compensation.
“All of that would have to come out of my pocket,” she told Variety. “I don’t know if this might mean I might not get nominated ever again, but I think it’s disrespectful.”
“I was like, ‘The exposure is amazing but I think I have enough. I appreciate you guys asking. And as much as I appreciate the honor of being nominated, that’s not OK,” Haddish added, likening the ordeal to being asked on a date and then being told you have to pay for it yourself.
Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy Interim President and CEO, posted a video to Instagram early Thursday morning apologizing to Haddish. Unbeknownst to Mason, a talent booker for the academy told Haddish they wouldn’t cover the costs, he said.
“To me, that was wrong,” Mason said. “I’m frustrated by that decision. It was a lapse in judgment, it was in poor taste and it was disrespectful to the creative community. I’m part of the creative community. I know what that feels like, and it’s not right.”
The two had a conversation, which Mason thanked Haddish for being “gracious enough to allow.” USA TODAY has reached out to Haddish’s representatives for further comment.
“I apologized to her personally and I apologized to her from the academy, I expressed to her my regret and my displeasure about how this went down and about how this was handled,” Mason said. “Again, I want to say, Tiffany, we are sorry, and thank you for allowing me to speak on it.”
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