In a shocking moment at the 2022 Grammys, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared in a video address to speak in clipped, drastic terms about the humanitarian crisis Ukrainians are experiencing due to Russia’s brutal attacks.
“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos,” said Zelensky, in his characteristic stark manner. “They sing to the wounded, in hospitals.”
The Grammys, even more than other award shows, are known for a lighthearted party feel, glitz and high slits and hands in the air. Introduced by an unusually somber host Trevor Noah, Zelensky’s appearance on screen felt slightly shocking. Just last week at the Oscars, calls from some actors to have Zelensky appear in person or on screen were unheeded, and understandably—Zelensky is leading his people through a brutal war that will likely determine Ukraine’s independence as a country. But on Sunday night, the former comedian and actor-turned celebrated world leader found time to speak to a largely American, younger audience.
Critics will certainly call it a gambit on the part of the liberal-leaning entertainment world to pay lip service to emergencies abroad. But there’s something to be said for bringing urgent world news to a large, captive audience made up of people who may not feel well-informed about geopolitics. In his short speech he compared the danger and cultural destruction in Ukraine to the freedom of performers and fans experiencing the Grammys, and exhorted viewers to “tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV.”
Throughout this war, part of Zelensky’s approaches has been to beg foreign leaders and people to show compassion to his people. To not turn away from violence and injustice, even though it is very far away. “The war. What is more opposite to music?” he asked in his Grammys address. “The silence of ruined cities and killed people. Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died. And we’ll never seem them drawing. Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning. In bomb shelters, but alive. Our loved ones don’t know if we will be together again. The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence.”
Zelensky’s brief address was followed by a performance by John Legend, who was joined by three Ukrainian women artists: Suzzana Iglidan, Mika Newton, and Luba Yakimchuk. The appearance of an emotional president at the 2022 Grammys, sandwiched in between jokes by a comedian and a performance by Lady Gaga, was strange. But perhaps its total absence would have been more strange.
Jenny Singer is a staff writer for Glamour. You can follow her on Twitter.
At the 2022 Grammys, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Speaks
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