Country singer Shaboozey has sparked widespread debate following his emotional acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards Premiere ceremony on February 1, 2026, in which Shaboozey dedicated his first Grammy win to immigrants and their contributions to the United States. For their song Amen, Shaboozey and Jelly Roll won Best Country Duo/Group Performance. While on stage, he thanked his mother for her efforts and also spoke about immigrants. He started with:"I've got a speech, man. I've never written a speech in my life. She worked three to four jobs just to provide for me and my four siblings as an immigrant in this country. Thank you, mom."He continued:"Immigrants build this country, literally. This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity, to be a part of a nation that promises freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it."He concluded by thanking immigrants for bringing their culture, music, stories and traditions to the United States:"Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You give America color."Nas responded to the speech by taking it to X. The post has now gone viral where he criticized the singer's acceptance speech. Nas claimed that Shaboozey's remarks were "pure evil" and that he was "a guest in this country," claiming that the speech ignored the fundamental contribution made by Black Americans, especially those who were enslaved, to the development of the country.Nas's now viral tweet reads:“What you did last night was pure evil. This will not be forgotten. You are a guest in this country. A disrespectful one at that. You are the true definition of a Tether. You Anti-Black American disrespectful piece of sh*t.” Nas's post received both praise and hate for his tweet since it was posted at the start of Black History Month. Some users agreed with Nas, claiming that the statement ignored Black Americans' centuries of systematic oppression and forced labor, as well as their impact on the origins of country music. While some disagreed with Nas's stance as the beleived that even Shaboozey has a right to speak from his own experience. Shaboozey's response to the criticismIn a public message posted on social media on February 3, Shaboozey explicitly addressed the situation in the face of growing criticism. He clarified his acceptance speech, saying that he never meant to erase or minimize Black American History:“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. 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.”He also stated the significance of winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance on the first day of Black History Month, as the first Black guy was a historic accomplishment in and of itself:“At the same time, winning this award on the first day of Black History Month and becoming the first Black man to win Best Country Duo is Black history. It stands on the foundation laid by generations of Black people who fought, sacrificed, and succeeded long before me. This moment belongs to all of us.”He concluded:“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. With Love, Chibueze.”Shaboozey was not the only artist who addressed the issue at the Grammys. Billie Eilish, Kehlani, SZA and Bad Bunny also spoke about it. Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.