‘They need to step up’: Grammys 2018 president blasted after male artists sweep awards despite Time’s Up protest

The hashtag 'Grammyssomale' started trending on Twitter during the show 
Under fire: Grammys president Neil Portnow says women need to 'step up'
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Jennifer Ruby29 January 2018
The Weekender

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The president of the Grammys has come under fire for saying that women need to “step up” if they want to win more awards.

Despite nominations for female artists including Lady Gaga, Lorde and Pink, the top prizes at this year’s ceremony were all won by male artists such as Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.

Alessa Cara was the only woman to win an award in a main category, picking up the Best New Artist prize.

Speaking about the lack of female wins, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow suggested that women should double their efforts.

“I think it has to begin with women who have the creativity in their hearts and their souls — who want to be musicians, who want to be engineers, who want to be producers, who want to be part of the industry on an executive level — to step up, because I think they would be welcome,” he told journalists backstage at the ceremony.

“I don't have personal experience with the kinds of brick walls that (women) face,” he continued.

Celebrities wearing white roses at the Grammy Awards 2018

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“But I think it's really a combination of us in the industry making a welcome mat very obvious: creating mentorships, creating opportunities, not only for women, but for all people.

“And moving forward, creating that next generation of artists who feel like they can do anything and say anything."

Viewers were quick to notice the lack of female representation at this year’s ceremony, with the hastag ‘#Grammyssomale’ trending on Twitter.

Mars was the big winner of the evening, picking up the top prizes for Best Album and Best Song, while Best Video went to Kendrick Lamar.

A number of artists including Lady Gaga, Anna Kendrick and Lana Del Rey wore white rose pins on the red carpet to show their support for the Time’s Up movement.

Grammy Awards 2018 Show and Winners - In pictures

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