At the Grammy Awards held on February 1, Bruno Mars was nominated in three major categories, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, for “APT.” , his high-profile collaboration with Rosé. Despite the song’s massive global success, the pair failed to secure a win in any category.
“APT.” had previously dominated charts worldwide, breaking records and amassing billions of streams on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. Nevertheless, Record of the Year went to “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Song of the Year was awarded to Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower,” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance went to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
The result marked a notable turning point in Bruno Mars’ career. Since 2014, the American superstar had won at least one Grammy at every ceremony he was nominated for, accumulating a total of 16 Grammy Awards. The 2026 ceremony ended that long-standing streak.
While many fans expressed disappointment, the situation escalated when an image of Rosé and Bruno Mars reacting to the loss circulated widely on social media. The photo, showing the two stars looking somber as they gazed toward the stage, was accompanied by mocking captions such as, “Oh, they’re furious! Serves them right!”
The post reportedly garnered over 5.1 million views in less than a day. Comment sections quickly filled with sarcastic and hostile remarks, with Rosé becoming a primary target. Some netizens claimed she was the reason Bruno Mars experienced his first Grammy “failure,” leaving comments such as “Bruno Mars tasted defeat for the first time,” “Rosé brought him his first loss,” and “Even collaborating with Bruno couldn’t get her a Grammy.” Others went further, questioning Rosé’s influence and making personal attacks, fueling further outrage among fans.
In response, many of Rosé’s supporters turned their criticism toward the Grammy Awards themselves, accusing the institution of bias against K-pop and Asian artists. Comments defending the singer argued that “APT.” was one of the most popular songs of the year and that Grammy results are often influenced by politics rather than pure musical impact.
However, these claims have also been met with counterarguments. Earlier this month, “Golden,” a soundtrack song from K-Pop Demon Hunters, became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, taking home Best Song Written for Visual Media. The track had already won Best Original Song at the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globes and is currently considered a strong contender for the Academy Awards in 2026.
In recent years, the Recording Academy has emphasized efforts to diversify its voting body by increasing representation among women, people of color, and younger members. Former Recording Academy president Neil Portnow previously rejected accusations of racial bias, stating in a 2017 interview with Pitchfork that the Grammys are voted on by approximately 14,000 qualified industry professionals rather than driven by commercial interests.
Sources: TP
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