BORING BAFTAS PAVE WAY FOR LIT GRAMMYS

While the film awards ceremony drew flak for its off-colour humour, women wowed at the music event

If the Baftas were boring, thanks to not-so-funny host Joanna Lumley, Grammys 2019 were anything but. And women, snubbed in 2018, ruled the Grammy Awards this year. Alicia Keys became the first woman to host the Grammys in 14 years, which also paid tribute to eight-time winner Dolly Parton.

Keys got the show at Staples Center off to a rousing start bringing a few of her friends — Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith and former first lady Michelle Obama — on stage to speak on diversity and how music impacted their lives. “Music shows us that all of it matters — every story within every voice, every note within every song. Is that right, ladies?” Obama said to applause. Keys then referenced the Beyonce song, asking, “Who run the world?” The night signalled change may be afoot at the Recording Academy, after backlash over its struggle to embrace diversity.

Rising pop star Camila Cabello opened the show with Ricky Martin, J Balvin and rapper Young Thug with a bilingual performance. Pop futurist Janelle Monae wowed with an edgy performance backed by an entourage of female dancers, dropping the line of the night: “Let the vagina have a monologue.”

The night was crowned by two of the biggest stars in music history — country legend Parton and disco diva Diana Ross. Parton, honoured as the MusiCares Person of the Year for her philanthropic contributions, joined forces with a constellation of singers including goddaughter Miley Cyrus and pop star Katy Perry.

But Britain’s prestigious film awards, the Baftas, were a stark contrast. Host Lumley’s jokes, especially a racist one about Ku Klux Klan left many infuriated. “Oh, Joanna, these really are terrible jokes. Klan Film Festival and illegal war? Honestly, this is painful,” one user wrote on Twitter. “Such boring and drab ceremony at Baftas this year. You cant laugh at the hosts’ jokes nor can you look for something else to keep you entertained at the ceremony (sic),” tweeted one user Kayley.

PHOTO: TIM IRELAND/AP PHOTOS: MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (left) with actor Olivia Colman at the Baftas (From left) Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Grammy host Alicia Keys, former US First Lady Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez kicked off the music awards show; (below) Lady Gaga performed later in the evening

Karen Fairchild, Dolly Parton and Kimberly Schlapman performed at the Grammys at a tribute to the veteran country music singer

Bafta host Joanna Lumley was criticised for her dull jokes, some of them racist

PHOTO: LUCYNICHOLSON/ REUTERS Singer Bebe Rexha stunned in a red ruffly gown

PHOTO: JORDAN STRAUSS/ INVISION/AP Singer Katy Perry was trolled on Twitter for her ‘pastry’ pick

PHOTO: LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS Singer Lady Gaga dazzled in a strapless metallic gown and platinum hair. We missed that ‘eccentric Gaga’ vibe though

PHOTO: JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP Singer MileyCyrus paired her oversized pantsuit with statement heels flaunting her initials

PHOTO: REUTERS Margot Robbie’s unusual ruffled pick got the internet divided