Taylor Swift received backlash for being ‘disrespectful’ by ‘ignoring’ Celine Dion while accepting the award for Album of the Year at the Grammys on Sunday.
Dion made a surprise rare appearance at the ceremony, amid her battle with stiff-person syndrome, to present Swift, 34, with the honor – which she herself won 27 years ago.
Swift – who was nominated for her 2022 record Midnights – became the first person to win the accolade four times and excitingly made her way to the stage at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Dion, 55, handed her the award, but fans pointed out that Swift didn’t acknowledge her and didn’t make eye contact, quickly looking back to celebrate the moment with her collaborators instead.
However, there appeared to be no ill-feelings as the iconic pair later posed-up happily backstage.
+86
View gallery
Taylor Swift received backlash for being ‘disrespectful’ by ‘ignoring’ Celine Dion while accepting the award for Album of the Year at the Grammys on Sunday
+86
View gallery
Dion – who is battling with stiff-person syndrome – handed Swift the award, but fans pointed out that the singer didn’t acknowledge her, quickly looking back to celebrate the moment with her collaborators instead
‘Taylor Swift didn’t even hug or acknowledge Celine Dion. Can’t f*****g stand this t**t,’ one upset fan wrote on social media afterwards.
Taylor Swift completely ignoring Celine Dion like she was some trophy model presenter was #GRAMMYS was wild. She’s won this three times and usually such a pro. But to ignore an icon, who is dealing with so much? Yikes.’
‘As someone who has defended Taylor, I can’t defend this. No acknowledgment of Celine whatsoever,’ another added.
‘Taylor Swift will never EVER live down ignoring Celine Dion at the Grammys.’
‘Taylor Swift not acknowledging Celine Dion, a legend, at the Grammys, but dragging Lana to that stage? Smh,’ another person wrote in reference to Lana Del Rey being on stage.
‘Taylor not acknowledging Celine and then SNATCHING the Grammy from her… JAIL.’
Dion was visibly emotional as she walked onstage with the support of eldest son Rene-Charles Angelil, 23, to cheers and a standing ovation and to present Album of the Year.
She said: ‘Thank you, all! I love you right back. You look beautiful. When I say I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart.’
‘Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world.’
+86
View gallery
Swift didn’t make eye contact with Dion, as she quickly grabbed the award
+86
View gallery
She became the first person to win the accolade four times
+86
View gallery
Celine looked incredible in a terracotta coat and glittering jewelry as she clapped for Taylor
+86
View gallery
The big win made Swift the first person to ever win the top prize four times as she was previously tied with Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and Paul Simon for the record
Taylor thanked her friends and many collaborators during her acceptance speech but one notable name which was missing was boyfriend Travis Kelce who will be playing in the Super Bowl next week.
She said: ‘I want to say. I get to work with one of my best friends who is not only one of my best friends, but also a once in a generation producer that’s Jack Antonoff. I’m so lucky. And my engineer, I want to say thank you to Sam Dew, sound wave.’
Taylor had pal Lana Del Rey join her on stage as she was also nominated in the top category and is also a collaborator with Jack Antonoff and made sure to praise the artist during her speech.
The A-lister continued: ‘ Lana Del Rey who is hiding, but I think so many female artists would not be where they are or have the inspiration without the work she has done. She is a legacy artist, a legend in her prime right now. I’m so lucky to know you went to be your friend.’
The star concluded her triumphant speech by expressing her love of music from the recording studio, to performing concerts around the world, and even earning major awards.
Taylor said: ‘ I would love to tell you that this is the best moment in my life, but I feel this happy when I finish a song or when I cracked the code to a bridge that I love, or when I am short-listing a music video, or when I am rehearsing with my dancers or my band or getting ready to go to Tokyo to play a show.
‘For me, the award is the work. All I want to do is keep being able to do this. I love it so much. It makes me so happy. It makes me unbelievably blown away that it makes some people happy who voted for this award too. All they want to do is keep doing this. So thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do what I% love so much! Mind blown! Thank you so much!’
An hour-and-a-half before that the A-lister earned her milestone 13th Grammy Award on Sunday evening as she dropped a huge secret that she has been keeping from her Swifties for two years.
+86
View gallery
However, there appeared to be no ill-feelings as the iconic pair later posed-up happily backstage
+86
View gallery
Taylor also posed alongside Celine’s son Rene-Charles Angelil, 23
+86
View gallery
Celine, who has stepped away from her singing career in light of her health woes, was visibly emotional as she walked onstage with the support of eldest son Rene-Charles to cheers and a standing ovation and to present Album of the Year
+86
View gallery
‘Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world’ she said
+86
View gallery
Earlier in the night Swift used her 13th Grammy Award win on Sunday to announce a surprise new album coming out on April 19th