Shaboozey has responded to backlash he received for his “immigrants built this country” remark at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
After accepting the prize for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for Amen, his collaboration with Jelly Roll, the singer-rapper reflected on his mother’s journey from Nigeria to the U.S. and declared that “immigrants built this country”.
He also thanked them for “bringing your culture, your music, your stories, and your traditions here”.
However, Shaboozey – real name Collins Chibueze – quickly faced a wave of criticism on social media, with some claiming the remark ignored the role of Black people and enslaved Africans in American history.
One of the most prominent figures to weigh in on the debate was Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, who reminded followers in an X post that “our ancestors weren’t folks who came here seeking a better life”. The King Center executive didn’t mention Shaboozey by name in her message.
And taking to his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, the A Bar Song (Tipsy) hitmaker issued a statement in which he insisted he “never intended to dismiss the truth”.
“To be clear, I know and believe that we – Black people, have also built this country. My words were never intended to dismiss that truth,” he began. “I am both a Black man and the son of Nigerian immigrants and in the overwhelming moment of winning my first Grammy, my focus was on honoring the sacrifices my parents made by coming to this country to give me and my siblings opportunities they never had.”
Shaboozey went on to acknowledge how much it meant for him to become the first Black man to win the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo on the first day of Black History Month.
“It stands on the foundation laid by generations of Black people who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded long before me,” the 30-year-old continued. “This moment belongs to all of us. My entire career has been rooted in lifting people up, honoring where we come from, and expanding what’s possible. I am proud to be part of this legacy, and I intend to continue doing that work for the rest of my life.”
Several other artists also expressed their support for immigrants at the Grammy Awards, including Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Dean, amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration in recent months.
