The heated debate about Beyonce‘s sweep of the Country categories at Sunday’s GRAMMY Awards (February 2) rages on.
When not being reportedly dissed by the likes of Kacey Musgraves and Big & Rich star John Rich, the ‘Cowboy Carter‘ creator has had to gallop past criticism from right-wing media personality Megyn Kelly and others.
The headline-grabbing detraction from the aforementioned three joined a swell of conservatives and Country enthusiasts who took to social media to slam GRAMMY voters and the Recording Academy for crowning ‘Cowboy’ the year’s best Country project – a stance also supported by right-wing journalist and best-selling author Raymond Arroyo.
Raymond Arroyo
Landing on the hitlist of Bey’s devoted fan base (affectionately called the #Beyhive), Arroyo was a special guest on FOX News broadcast ‘The Ingraham Angle’ earlier this week who took to the program to diss the diva’s historic wins.
“The country artists are not really happy about this. I’m gonna put this in some context Laura: Dolly Parton has 10 Grammys. Frank Sinatra had 11 Grammys. Beyoncé has 35. How is that possibly commensurate with that talent?,” he asked on Monday (February 3) before continuing, “Basically, Lady Gaga’s cat sitter voted for best reggae and best county album, so that’s why you get this ridiculous outcome that has nothing to do with the country audience or the country musicians.”
His commentary sent many Beyonce supporters into outrage, a communal response that landed his statements on the desk of ‘The View’ and prompted leading panelist Whoopi Goldberg to launch into a fiery weigh-in.
“Sir, are you aware that you have to be in the music industry to be a Grammy voter? So, the cat sitter can’t just vote,” Goldberg said on Tuesday’s episode (February 4). “[Beyonce] earned it…You want to hold on to country music like white people didn’t also buy her country album. Come on, man! People voted for it. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. Same with the Oscars. Sit down! … Music does not have the issues you have. Music is about the people.”
Her stinging words in a now-viral clip led Arroyo to return to ‘Ingraham’ on Wednesday (February 5) to clap back.
“It’s rigged; it’s a popularity contest,” Raymond exclaimed. “[Beyonce] herself said [‘Cowboy Carter’] wasn’t a Country album – except at the GRAMMYs and in Whoopi Goldberg’s mind, I guess. So, she can sit down; I’m standing.”
Ouch! At writing, the EGOT-winning actor-comic has not responded to Arroyo’s latest commentary on the matter.
