Harry Styles accepts an award at the 2023 BRITs
(Picture: PA)Harry Styles dominated the BRIT Awards by winning all four of the awards he was nominated for with Beyonce and Wet Leg also winning big.
The biggest night in British music returned to the 02 on Saturday night - with some of the country’s best-known artists celebrated for their talent.
Following on from their success at the Grammys on Sunday, Styles, Beyonce and Wet Leg were the artists of the night.
Styles had been nominated in four categories going into the evening and dominated the night by winning all four. He claimed the gongs for album of the year, song of the year for the chart-topping As It Was, artist of the year and best pop/R&B act.
The last time an act secured four Brits in one year was 2016 when Adele swept away the competition following the release of her album 25.
During his various acceptance speeches he acknowledged his “privilege” and namechecked the female artists who were absent from the best artist category this year. The Brits faced a backlash this year - only their second with gender-neutral categories - after the best artist list was dominated by men. This was despite an increase in female artists or all-women groups across the board.
Styles first won the award for best pop/R&B act, which is voted for by the public via TikTok.
After punching the air and taking to the stage, he thanked his fans before adding: “I have so many wonderful memories at the Brits so thank you for another one. It is so good to be home.”
Then while accepting the gong for best artist, he thanked his family and his former band mates from One Direction.
“I want to thank my family for being the most supportive, understanding, patient, loving family I could have ever asked for.
“I want to thank my mum for signing me up for The X Factor without telling me, so I literally wouldn’t be here without you.
“I want to thank Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn because I wouldn’t be here without you either. Thank you so much.”
In an apparent reference to the online backlash to comments he made at the Grammys last weekend, he added that he was “very aware of my privilege up here tonight”.
While accepting the Grammy for best album last Sunday he said on-stage: “This doesn’t happen to people like me very often” prompting some to comment that artists from diverse backgrounds such as Beyonce have faced more obstacles to success.
Indie rockers Wet Leg also followed up on their success at the Grammys last week, where they won two prizes, by claiming the gongs for best new artist and best group.
The Isle of Wight-formed band, comprised of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, are due to head out on tour as Styles’ opening act in the coming months.
Vocalist Teasdale appeared to poke fun at Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner’s acceptance speech at the 2014 ceremony by quoting it closely.
She said: “That rock and roll, hey. That rock and roll, it just won’t go away. It might hibernate for time to time, then sink back into the swamp.”
Laughing, she then added: “But in seriousness thank you so much. This is so scary because being on the telly can be such a boys’ club thing” before thanking all the women involved in making their debut album.
Beyonce also won two Brits – best international artist and best international song for her dancefloor focussed anthem Break My Soul.
The pop superstar was not present but in a video message said: “Thank you so much for this incredible recognition” before thanking her British fans and adding: “The renaissance begins!”
Host Mo Gilligan kicked off the ceremony with a skit in which he arrived at the O2 Arena via a helicopter organised by Lizzo.
Performers on the night included Styles, Wet Leg, Stormzy, David Guetta, US pop star Lizzo, Sam Smith, Sam Ryder and British singer-songwriters Ella Henderson and Becky Hill.
