Country music star Shaboozey has issued a clarification following criticism of his Grammy Awards acceptance speech, in which he praised immigrants and declared that “immigrants built this country.” The comments, delivered Sunday night after he won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Jelly Roll, drew condemnation from activists on the left — including Bernice King, the youngest daughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
During his acceptance speech, Shaboozey framed his remarks as a tribute to immigrants seeking opportunity in the United States. “This is for all children of immigrants,” he said, thanking those who came to America “in search of better opportunity” and crediting them with bringing “culture, music, stories and traditions” that “give America color.”
His comments appeared to align with a broader anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) message that permeated the Grammy Awards ceremony, where several artists wore “ICE Out” pins and voiced opposition to immigration enforcement policies.
However, Bernice King took issue with the framing, arguing that sweeping claims about immigrants “building” the country often overlook the central role of black Americans and their enslaved ancestors. In a post on X during Black History Month, King asked whether such rhetoric includes “enslaved Africans, descendants of those enslaved, and black people whose unjust, low-wage labor sustained the economy” in the 19th and 20th centuries.
“Chattel slavery was for the express purpose of building empire,” King wrote, emphasizing that enslaved Africans did not arrive seeking opportunity but “arrived in chains.” She cautioned against minimizing that history even while criticizing ICE’s policies, arguing that justice requires historical truth to be fully acknowledged.
King’s comments ignited criticism from progressive activists, prompting Shaboozey to address the controversy in a statement posted to his Instagram Stories on Tuesday. According to TMZ, the singer said he wanted to “acknowledge the conversation surrounding my acceptance speech” and clarify his intent.
“To be clear, I know and believe that we — black people — have also built this country,” Shaboozey wrote. “My words were never intended to dismiss that truth.”
Shaboozey explained that he is both a black man and the son of Nigerian immigrants, and said his remarks were meant to honor the sacrifices his parents made in coming to the United States. He added that the emotional weight of winning his first Grammy shaped his focus during the speech.
Many were still unsatisfied with his explanation, as he seemed to conflate his personal history as a first generation Nigerian immigrant with that of black Americans that have resided in the United States for centuries.
The artist also emphasized that his Grammy win itself represents a milestone in black history. “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,” he wrote, crediting generations of black Americans who paved the way for his success.
“This moment belongs to all of us,” Shaboozey concluded.
The episode underscores ongoing tensions within progressive cultural spaces over how immigration narratives intersect with America’s history of slavery and racial discrimination.
READ NEXT: Country Music Star Shares Anti-ICE Song
