During his acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards on Sunday evening, Shaboozey tearfully dedicated his award to immigrants. The "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" artist won the award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. He shared that honor with Jelly Roll for the song "Amen."
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"Immigrants build this country, literally," said the singer. "This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity, to be a part of a nation that promises freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it."
The speech was meant to focus on the sacrifices Shaboozey's Nigerian parents made to give him a better life. However, the singer received backlash for overlooking the experiences and contributions of enslaved Africans in America.
Shaboozey has since addressed those comments in an Instagram Story posted yesterday, Feb. 3. We have the details below.
Shaboozey Wanted To Honor His Parents
Shaboozey clarified that he did not intend to overlook the experiences and contributions of Black people throughout the country's history.
"To be clear, I know and believe that we -- Black people, have also built this country," he wrote. "My words were never intended to dismiss that truth.
He added, "I am both a Black man and the son of Nigerian immigrants, and in the overwhelming moment of winning my first Grammy my focus was on honoring the sacrifices my parents made by coming to this country to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had."
Shaboozey's Win Also Made History
Shaboozey then pointed out that he made history on Sunday. He became the first Black man to win the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The fact that it happened on the first day of Black History Month was not lost on him.
"It stands on the foundation laid by generations of Black people who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded long before me," he explained. "This moment belongs to all of us."
He ended his statement by saying that his "entire career has been rooted in lifting people up, honoring where we came from, and expanding what's possible. I am proud to be part of this legacy, and I intend to continue doing that work for the rest of my life."
