“This Moment Belongs to All of Us”: Shaboozey Offers Classy Response to Grammy Speech Criticism

Shaboozey has responded via social media, after receiving backlash from some commentators online about this GRAMMY speech. The ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ hitmaker was accepting the Best Country Duo / Group Performance for ‘Amen’ with Jelly Roll.

Shaboozey made an emotional reference to how “immigrants built this country”, echoing the sentiments of fellow artists such as Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber and more in condemning the Trump administration's ICE immigration raids.

On the night, the ‘Good News’ singer-songwriter was widely praised for his touching words and his personal account of how immigrants have contributed to the fabric of the US.

However, since then, a discourse has emerged online questioning whether, in declaring that “immigrants built this country”, Shaboozey had diminished the role of enslaved Black people that were trafficked into North America and forced into labor.

In his original GRAMMY speech, a teary-eyed Shaboozey movingly began, “I just want to say, dear God, thank you, nothing is possible without You. Your love and will preserves me through it all. I would also like to thank my mother, who has today, has retired from her job after thirty years. Working in the medical field as a registered nurse on the psych ward, she worked three to four jobs just to provide for me and my four siblings as an immigrant in this country. Thank you, mom”.

He concluded, “The last thing I want to say, immigrants built this country, literally. Actually. So this is for them, for all children of immigrants. This is also for those who came to this country in search of a better opportunity to be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all, and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories, and your traditions here. You give America color. I love y’all so much. Thank you”.

Particularly in the context of this GRAMMY ceremony, in which the most vocal message was one of strong anti-ICE feeling, Shaboozey's words felt apt and in line with the tone of the show. Since then, though, many have accused him of overlooking the role Black people played in building much of the US foundation and infrastructure.

Shaboozey has addressed this via a sincere post, “First and foremost, I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who has supported and celebrated my journey as an artist. I also want to acknowledge the conversation surrounding my acceptance speech”.

A letter from me 🖤 pic.twitter.com/DgcOavMHjx

— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) February 3, 2026

He expands, “To be clear, I know and believe that we - Black people, have also built this country. My words were never intended to dismiss that truth. 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 muses, “At the same time, winning this award on the first day of Black History Month and becoming the first Black man to win Best Country Duo is Black history. It stands on the foundation laid by generations of Black people who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded long before me. This moment belongs to all of us”.

The ‘Blink Twice’ crooner underlines that, throughout his storied musical journey so far, his core mission has always been to elevate and inspire others, while paying tribute to his origins, “My entire career has been rooted in lifting people up, honoring where we come 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”.

It's evident from his latest statement that his intention was never to diminish or reduce the role of Black people in building North America, but rather, he wanted to make a point of highlighting the importance of immigrants in the country's DNA, particularly in light of the challenges the immigrant community are currently facing. If there's one thing we know about Shaboozey, it's that his heart is always in the right place, epitomised by his classy, considered response to the flak.

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