Iggy Azalea won numerous awards at this year’s Billboard Music Awards just under two weeks ago. Most notable was her award for Top Rap Song for her song “Fancy” over fellow nominees Big Sean, Nicki Minaj and Bobby Shmurda. Due to sweeping accusations that Iggy has faced in the past over cultural appropriation, it goes without saying that many were enraged and took to Twitter. The artist was sent numerous tweets questioning her authenticity, her skill as an artist and the justification, or lack thereof, of the award.
Well, let’s just say they didn’t stop there.
Shortly after the awards, a Change.org petition was drafted to have the award recanted. The petition as of today has amassed almost 23,000 signatures as people let out their frustration surrounding the award. Contrary to popular belief, however, the petition has been drafted not on the grounds of cultural appropriation, lack of authenticity, the quality of her music or even lack of talent. The petition instead fell under the grounds of eligibility.
The petition’s description:
Iggy Azalea’s 2015 Billboard Award for Best Song has been proven invalid. The eligibility time period for nominations is March 10th, 2014 through March 2015. “Fancy” was released on February 17th, 2014, nearly a month before the eligibility starting. This is unfair to the other nominees in these category, especially to “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj, who most likely would’ve won. Billboard did not follow their own guidelines and should have to recalculate these nominations without “Fancy” as a nominee.
Most recently, the owner has informed those who have signed that due to feedback from a producer of the awards show, Iggy Azalea’s award is still valid. He has thus called this the “end of the road” for the petition and has urged signers to put active support into requesting Nicki’s new songs on the radio and purchasing on iTunes.
Award revoked or not, seeing so many people having signed it has gotta make you feel some kinda way. Well, sucks to suck, I guess.