At the 2025 Grammys, an unexpected moment on the red carpet has set social media abuzz, as legendary singer Diana Ross appeared to throw shade at rapper Kendrick Lamar during the presentation of the Song of the Year award. The ceremony, held at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, was already filled with glamour and high-profile appearances, but one incident quickly became the talk of the night.
Diana Ross took the stage to present the prestigious category, which featured nominees including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey, and Beyonce. The moment of truth arrived when it was announced that Kendrick Lamar would be taking home the coveted award for his hit tune titled Not Like Us, according to the Mirror.
As Ross opened the envelope, she was visibly taken aback, letting out a soft, almost imperceptible, “Huh” before announcing the winner. This brief reaction did not go unnoticed, and fans online immediately began to dissect her expression and tone.
On Twitter (now rebranded as X), fans shared their interpretations of the moment. One enthusiastic user wrote, “diana ross after reading kendrick’s name on that envelope #GRAMMYs,” and posted a clip highlighting the moment. Another fan questioned, “Did Diana Ross just throw shade with that ahh before she said Kendrick Lamar???? #GRAMMYs #SongOfTheYear” A third user echoed the sentiment with, “The Grammy goes to…. ahh Kendrick Lamar” – Diana Ross”, while a fourth admitted, “i can’t rn im legit crying at diana ross giving the award to kendrick for this song this is comedy.” These tweets underscored the viral impact of Ross’s unexpected reaction, igniting debate about whether it was a subtle act of defiance or simply a moment of genuine surprise.
The award ceremony continued to deliver memorable moments. Chappell Roan, who was honored as the Best New Artist of the Year, delivered a bold acceptance speech. In her address, she stated, “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?” and went on to passionately demand better compensation and welfare for artists, emphasizing that, “If my label would have prioritised artist health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to, so record labels need to treat their artists like valuable employees with health insurance and protection.” Her fiery words resonated with many, highlighting the ongoing struggles within the music industry.
Meanwhile, Beyonce also celebrated as she won the Album of the Year Award for Cowboy Carter. Although she expressed immense joy and gratitude—paying tribute to her husband Jay-Z, who was present at the ceremony—some fans felt that the award might have been more deserved by fellow nominee Billie Eilish.
The night at the Grammys 2025 proved to be one of both high achievement and unexpected controversy, as iconic figures left their mark in moments that will be remembered and debated for years to come.