After the 2021 Grammy nominations were announced last Tuesday, Halsey's fans were quick to question why the 26-year-old singer was noticeably absent from the list of nominees -- marking the second year in a row she was shut out.
Her album "Manic" -- released in January -- was favored to pick up several nods for songs such as "Without Me," "Graveyard" and "You Should Be Sad."
MORE: The Weeknd, snubbed by the Grammys, accuses the awards show of being 'corrupt'After taking nearly a week to gather her thoughts, Halsey finally broke her silence to address the controversy.
"I’ve been thinking and wanted to choose my words carefully because a lot of people have extended sympathy and apology to me since the Grammy nominations," she said Saturday via Instagram stories.
Halsey, who was nominated for two Grammys in 2017, went on to explain how some artists earn nods, which she says is problematic.
"The Grammys are an elusive process. It can often be about behind-the-scenes private performances, knowing the right people, campaigning though the grapevine, with the right handshakes and 'bribes' that can be just ambiguous enough to pass as 'not-bribes,'" she noted.
"If you get that far, it’s about committing to exclusive TV performances and making sure you help the Academy make their millions in advertising," she continued. "Perhaps sometimes it is (!!) but it’s not always about the music or quality or culture."
MORE: 2021 Grammy nominees: See the list of highlightsHalsey then mentioned The Weeknd -- who was also shockingly shut out of this year's list of nominees -- and claimed he "deserved better."
"'Manic' did too," she added about her latest album. "Perhaps it's unbecoming of me to say so but I can’t care anymore."
"While I am THRILLED for my talented friends who were recognized this year, I am hoping for more transparency and reform," she concluded. "But I’m sure this post will blacklist me anyway."