Alessia Cara should have spent Monday celebrating her first ever Grammy win – the Best New Artist award in recognition of her phenomenal achievements in music.
Instead, the Canadian singer found herself responding to criticism online from people who didn’t think of her as a “new” artist.
In a statement she shared on Instagram, Cara addressed “apparent backlash regarding winning something I had no control over.”
She wrote: “I was nominated and won and I am not going to be upset about something I’ve wanted since I was a kid, not to mention have worked really hard for.”
MORE: Alessia Cara Talks About Best New Artist Win
The 21-year-old Ontario native, who released her debut album Know-It-All in late 2015, beat out three artists who’s first albums came out in 2017 (Khalid, SZA, Lil Uzi Vert). Nominee Julia Michaels has released three EPs since 2010.
“I’m aware that my music wasn’t released yesterday,” Cara continued. “I’m aware that, yes, my music has become fairly popular in the last year. but I’m trying very hard to use the platform I’ve been given to talk about these things and bring light to issues that aren’t fair, all while trying to make the most of the weird, amazing success I’ve been lucky enough to have.
“I will not let everything I’ve worked for be diminished by people taking offence to my accomplishments and feeling the need to tell me how much I suck. here’s something fun! I’ve been thinking I suck since I was old enough to know what sucking meant. I’ve beat u to it.”
Cara reiterated how much winning the Grammy means to her. “I’ve been shown that what I’ve created is worth something and that people actually give a s**t. all of the years feeling like I wasn’t good at anything or that I was naive for dreaming about something improbable have paid off in a way that I have yet to process. I know it sounds cheesy and dumb but it’s the honest truth.
"thanks to everyone who’s shown me kindness and support along the way. I’ll stop talking now.”
Read Cara's full statement below: