Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga get political at Grammys: ‘DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift’
In a show that largely ignored politics, Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga spoke out forcefully in favor of human rights at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
In back-to-back acceptance speeches — Gaga for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Keys for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award — the artists directly addressed policies of the Donald Trump administration rolling back transgender rights and attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices.
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“This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices,” Keys declared at the podium. “We’ve seen on this stage talented, hardworking people from different backgrounds, with different points of view, and it changes the game. DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.”
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Gaga, who shared her victory for “Die With a Smile” with Bruno Mars, announced to the cheering crowd, “Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love.”
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While neither artist mentioned the president by name, their remarks were clearly meant to be in response to his executive orders and strong rhetoric that targeted transgender people and diversity in the workplace. Two particular executive orders declared that the federal government can only recognize two unchangeable sexes and that transgender women in federal custody must be moved to men’s prisons. Last week, when a midair collision occurred over the Potomac River, the president said, without specific evidence, that it “could have been” the result of DEI hiring for the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Earlier in the evening, host Trevor Noah made a few jokes about immigration, deportation, and tariffs during his opening monologue. However, most of the evening focused on the healing power of music and relief efforts for those impacted by the Los Angeles-area wildfires.
Keys is a 17-time Grammy Award winner, including Best Musical Theater Album for Hell’s Kitchen this year. Lady Gaga has won 14 Grammys throughout her career.
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