Comedian and TV host James Corden gave away puppies to almost all the nominees who failed to get a trophy at the 2018 Grammy Awards, but not everyone is happy about it.
The 39-year-old Grammys host had a sweet surprise for the losers on Grammy night last Sunday. After Dave Chappelle won Best Comedy album, Corden made a special announcement.
"Congratulations to Dave Chappelle, now I should say to all the nominees this evening who are not going home with a Grammy," the host opened, adding that he didn't want anyone to feel "upset."
"So the good news is, nobody goes home empty handed, because all night we'll be handing out consolation puppies," Corden told the powerhouse crowd.
Among the recipients were Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan, who were awarded with puppies by assistants from the crowd.
They missed one though. Kelly Clarkson, who lost to Ed Sheeran for the Best Pop Solo Performance, jokingly complained on Twitter that she did not get her consolation prize.
Many thought the idea adorable, with some viewers tweeting that they would much rather get the puppy over the iconic gramophone trophy.
However, there were those who thought the move was abusive to animals. Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) slammed the Grammys for the "disappointing" move.
In an official statement released on Monday, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said the Grammys "failed to grasp" what should now be common knowledge. "Dogs are intelligent, complex animals — not toys, props or prizes," she said.
Newkirk added that apart from the "stress" of being passed around among the audience during the event and under bright lights to boot, using them as prizes sent a wrong message to viewers.
"In a country where millions of homeless dogs are waiting in shelters every year and are euthanized because there simply aren't enough good homes for them, this stunt is joke," she said.
