Statement about Grammy snub? Lorde wears feminist poem on dress

The 21-year-old, the only woman nominated in the Album of the Year category, was reportedly the only singer of those nominees not asked to perform one of her own pieces on the night

Recording artist Lorde, who is pictured here sitting next to her brother Angelo Yelich-O'Connor, was reportedly the only nominee in the Best Album category that wasn't asked to perform solo. She was also the only woman nominated. Christopher Polk / Getty Images

The 60th Grammy Awards, which took place on Sunday night, happened very much in the midst of the Time's Up movement. One person who made a statement on the night was New Zealand singer Lorde, who stitched a poem by feminist artist Jenny Holzer onto the back of her dress.

Some reports suggest the poem may have been partly aimed at elements of the night itself. The 21-year-old was the only woman nominated in the Album of the Year category, and was also reportedly the only singer in that category that wasn't asked to perform a piece from her nominated work. The singer was invited to sing in a collective tribute to Tom Petty, but refused, reportedly in protest.

All of the men in Lorde's category asked to perform solo

The other singers in the best album category were Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar (who all performed). Jay-Z was the fifth nominee in the category, and while he was asked to perform, he refused.

Ken Ehrlich, the Grammy Awards' executive producer confirmed that Jay Z was asked to perform. "We had a conversation that we thought was going to lead to a performance and really only two weeks ago he basically said he'd rather not," the producer told the LA Times. "He wanted to come and enjoy the show. And I understand. This is not a man who has been under-tributed. His life has been full of these moments; he's given us a couple great ones too. But still, there was that conversation of, 'Are you sure?'"

In six years, only nine percent of Grammy nominees women 

Lorde's mother, Sonja Yelich, shed further light on the situation by tweeting a picture of an article from The New York Times with the following text circled.

“Of the 899 people nominated in the last six Grammy Awards, the report found, 9 percent were women. (This year, Lorde is the only woman nominated for album of the year; she is not scheduled to perform.)”

Yelich then tweeted "This says it all"

this says it all -@nytimes January 26, 2018 pic.twitter.com/R3YdHwieXf

— Sonja Yelich (@sonjayelich1) January 26, 2018

'Our times are intolerable'

This year's Grammy Awards saw stars donning white roses in support of a movement against sexual harassment and assault. Lorde chose to instead attach a poem by Jenny Holzer, a feminist artist, onto the back of her gown.

An Instagram post (above) showing a picture of the star's scarlet dress says, "My version of a white rose — THE APOCALYPSE WILL BLOSSOM — an excerpt from the greatest of all time, jenny holzer 🕊🌹"

The words on the card read as follows:

"Rejoice! Our times are intolerable. Take courage, for the worst is a harbinger of the best. Only dire circumstances can precipitate the overthrow of oppressors. The old and corrupt must be laid to waste before the just can triumph. Contradiction will be heightened. The reckoning will be hastened by the staging of seed disturbances. The apocalypse will blossom."

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