Grammys CEO Addresses Louis CK and Dave Chappelle Nods Amid Controversies

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. spoke to controversial comedians Louis CK and Dave Chappelle, nominees for the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Mason told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday that he has no control over the selection of voting Academy members.

“What we can control is making sure people who attend our events feel safe,” he said, adding that Academy leaders would not withdraw someone’s nomination. one even if they didn’t agree with it.

“We’re never going to get involved in deciding someone’s moral standing or where we rate them on the scale of morality,” he continued. “I think our job is to assess the art and the quality of the art.”

Both Chappelle and Louis CK were nominated for Best Comedy Album for their comedy specials. Chappelle earned the nomination for his Netflix special “The Closer” and Louis CK received a nod for his “Sorry” special.

Louis CK admitted to sexually harassing five women who detailed their accusations of sexual misconduct against the disgraced comedian in a 2017 New York Times report.

Nonetheless, the comedian won a Grammy last year for Best Comedy Album with his special, “Sincerely Louis CK,” despite the scandal.

Chappelle was widely criticized for making a series of transphobic jokes in the now Grammy-nominated Netflix special, “The Closer,” which premiered on the streaming service in October 2021. Netflix employees staged a strike to protest the special days after its release.

The comedian, who has three Grammys for Best Comedy Album under his belt, recently sparked more controversy after hosting “Saturday Night Live” last weekend. His monologue drew criticism from the Anti-Defamation League, which accused the comedian of “normalizing and popularizing anti-Semitism.”

The 65th annual Grammys is scheduled for February 5.