Phoebe Bridgers Told Ex-Grammys Head Neil Portnow to “Rot in Piss”

Phoebe Bridgers didn’t hold back when she aimed Neil Portnow, the former head of the Grammys, following her big win at the 2024 Recording Academy Awards. Bagging four trophies, including one for her part in the supergroup Boygenius and another for her feature on SZA’s ‘Ghost In The Machine’, Bridgers had every right to celebrate.

She called out Portnow for his past comments, reminding everyone of his infamous “step up” remark back in 2018. At the time, he suggested that female artists needed to do more to earn Grammy recognition, sparking outrage across the industry. Bridgers made it clear she hadn’t forgotten, slamming him with a sharp “rot in piss” jab, especially considering the sexual violence allegations against him.

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Portnow’s departure from the Grammy spotlight in 2019 didn’t erase the sting of his words. His attempt to backtrack and apologize fell short for many, including Bridgers and fellow artist Dua Lipa. Lipa, who also snagged a Grammy that night, subtly threw shade at Portnow in her acceptance speech, highlighting the strides made by female artists without directly naming him.

In the grand scheme of things, Portnow’s exit from the Grammy scene was inevitable. His departure paved the way for new leadership and hopefully a more inclusive future for the music industry. As Bridgers rightly pointed out, evolution is crucial for any institution’s success and the Grammys are no exception.