Christian music star Natalie Grant caused a media stir Sunday night when she left the Grammys early. Grant never cited the particular reason she left on, but media outlets were keen to guess. Many suspected it had to do with several risqué performances including Jay-Z and Beyonce’s sexy “Drunk in Love” duet, and Katy Perry’s “satanic” pole-dancing witchcraft-inspired number.

 

Viewers raised eyebrows at the night’s events, with former Alabama football player, AJ McCarron citing them to be “really demonic.” But despite the speculations, in a tweet, Grant never actually said why she left, only that she did:

“We left the Grammy’s early. I’ve many thoughts, most of which are probably better left inside my head. But I’ll say this: I’ve never been more honored to sing about Jesus and for Jesus. And I’ve never been more sure of the path I’ve chosen.”

This whole Natalie Grant Grammy storyline sparked my interest when  several near-angry sounding posts popped up on my own Facebook feed about Grant’s decision to exercise what I see as her basic human rights, regardless of circumstance or religious alliance. Some even questioned why she bothered to go to the awards show in the first place.

To me, the situation doesn’t have to be complicated: A person was uncomfortable for some reason (and any reason is valid), and that person removed themselves (took care of themselves). We’ve all been in places where we suddenly realize it’s time to leave, and rarely are those spur-of-the-moment exits planned. Generally people don’t go to an event hoping to feel uncomfortable enough to take off early. I think the fact that Grant is a Christian musician makes her an easy target here for assumptions, but even if she did leave because of Perry’s satanic routine, I would hope it’s okay for her to do that, in the same way it would be understandable for a Satanist to want to leave the Dove awards. Just saying.

She later posted to Facebook:

“I NEVER said I left during any particular performance. I only said I left early. I never pointed out any one particular performance, I only said I had many thoughts about the entire show, which were best left inside my head and that is where they will stay. So those who say I condemned one performance but then condoned others clearly did not read the post.”

Whichever way you side on Grant’s decision, all of this has provided her with enhanced visibility, especially since she didn’t go home with a Grammy. And perhaps in her case, some exposure is better than no exposure, especially when this Natalie Grant Grammy scandal seems to be providing her with an outlet to state her beliefs and her purpose for being an artist.