Ministry of Culture condemns Grammy for episode with Milton Nascimento
Brazil’s Ministry of Culture published a note on Tuesday (Feb. 4) expressing its “disapproval” of the 2025 Grammy Awards’ decision to place singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento “in a location incompatible with his career, international prestige, and physical needs.”
The attitude “demonstrates an inconsiderate treatment and a lack of respect for one of the greatest names in Brazilian music,” the text reads.
Before the statement, Nascimento had commented on the episode on his social media. He was not “barred,” he clarified. Rather, he chose not to attend the event the day before, when he found out that the ceremony organizers had indicated “a place in the stands” and not “at the tables—among the main artists there” and next to singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding, with whom he shares the album Milton + esperanza, released in August last year and nominated for an award.
The Brazilian artist also expressed gratitude for the support, affection, and concern from the people who voiced their indignation at the incident, which happened at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (2).
Also on social media, Esperanza Spalding posted an image of herself sitting at the main tables of the awards ceremony with a poster with a photo of Milton saying he should be sitting there and that the non-allocation of the seat “didn’t seem right.”
Esperanza and Nascimento’s album was up for Best Jazz Vocal Album. The award, however, went to US singer-songwriter Samara Joy McLendon, for her A Joyful Holiday.
Milton Nascimento is 82 years old, has released 34 albums, and is the recipient of numerous national and international awards, including five Grammys.
