The 2021 Brit Awards marked a turning point in the pandemic, with 4,000 attendees gathering at the O2 arena for the first time since lockdown 1.0 for the occasion. This year’s event also proved historic, but in a different way: for the first time ever, the ceremony did away with gender-based prizes, with a number of long-overdue wins. Of particular note: Inflo, who worked closely with Adele and Little Simz on their respective albums, made history as the first non-white winner to scoop the Producer of the Year award since the Brits launched in 1977. Below, all of the other highlights (and a few lowlights) you might have missed from the night.
Adele won the evening before she even got on-stage
February 8, 2022 Adele performs at The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett via Getty Images
After the last-minute cancellation of her Las Vegas residency, Adele returned to London to bring the house down at the Brits, wearing a custom Valentino gown to perform her hit single “I Drink Wine”. It’s the giant pear-shaped diamond on her ring finger, though, that sent Twitter into a tailspin, with many assuming the 30 songstress is now engaged to her boyfriend Rich Paul. Naturally, Adele kept tight-lipped about her relationship status – but she did let slip what she would be doing after scooping both Artist and Record of the Year: nipping home for a glass of wine and a McDonald’s. (She’s a Big Mac girl, for what it’s worth.)
Midriff flossing got taken to new extremes
February 08, 2022 Tallia Storm attends The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images
The fashion at the Brits is always a bit touch-and-go, but 2022 proved especially… outré. The sartorial vibe outside the O2? Edward Scissorhands chic, with all manner of barely-there LBDs sliced every which way making appearances on the red carpet.
Downing Street got its comeuppance
February 08, 2022 Host Mo Gilligan during The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: JMEnternational via Getty Images
Naturally, the impending collapse of the British government earned a nod from host Mo Gilligan, who called out the prime minister during one segment of the programme. “Boris, I know you’re watching. I know you love a party. Come down, man.” Not quite as powerful as Dave lambasting the PM through verse a few years ago, but it will do.
Courteney Cox filled the obligatory “who-would-have-thought-it celebrity presenter” role
February 08, 2022 Johnny Mcdaid and Courtney Cox speak on stage during The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
We’re living through a golden age of bizarre celebrity romances – as further evidenced by Courteney Cox making an appearance to present International Song of the Year with her partner (?!?), Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol. Now that’s commitment to the Y2K revival.
Anne-Marie had a Madonna-esque fall
February 08, 2022 Anne-Marie performs on stage during The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
During her 2015 performance at the Brits, Madonna famously tumbled down the stairs when her cape malfunctioned – resulting in one of her back-up dancers literally yanking her off her feet (while wearing giant devil horns, no less). Anne-Marie had a similar accident while launching into a rendition of “Kiss My (Uh Oh)”, stepping out of a giant heart and promptly falling over. Uh oh, indeed. Her wonderfully deadpan response to the near-instant memes? “Didn’t need my left ankle anyway.”
Little Simz joined forces with (Netflix) royalty
February 08, 2022 Little Simz (R) accepting the Best New Artist award alongside her mother Tola Ajikawo during The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: JMEnternational via Getty Images
Little Simz’s performance of her record’s titular song would always have been a highlight of the evening, but the Sometimes I Might Be Introvert musician surprised the crowd by having The Crown’s Emma Corrin join her on-stage. Corrin, whose voice features sporadically on the album, did a spoken-word performance in a dramatic Harris Reed gown and headpiece from the designer’s spring/summer 2022 collection. Speaking of Simz: the Londoner scooped Best New Artist, in spite of the fact that she’s been releasing great music for more than a decade. Better late than never, Brits. Also: if there is anything purer than Simz’s mother losing it over her daughter’s success, I have never witnessed it.
Logan Roy is apparently an Ed Sheeran fan
February 08, 2022 Brian Cox presents the Songwriter of the Year award to Ed Sheeran during The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 Arena in London
Photo: JMEnternational via Getty Images
Succession’s Brian Cox showed up to give Ed Sheeran the Songwriter of the Year award, noting that “Shape of You” is now the most-streamed song ever on Spotify. He then promptly flew off-stage faster than Logan Roy in a PJ. (Somehow I cannot imagine L-to-the-OG tolerating Ed Sheeran being played anywhere in his vicinity, under any circumstances, ever?)
Editor
Hayley MaitlandCredit
Lead Image: JMEnternational via Getty Images
