Janelle Monae’s introduction of Kesha’s performance at the Grammys Sunday night provided one of the most dramatic and emotional moments of the night, as Monae, wearing a Time’s Up pin, called for an end to pay inequality and injustice.
“We come in peace, but we mean business … And to those who dare try to silence up, we offer you two words: Time’s Up. We say Time’s Up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and Time’s Up for the abuse of power,” Monae said.
“We have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well,” she continued. “So let’s work together, women and men, as a united music industry, committed to creating more safe work environments, equal pay and access for all women.”
Kesha then performed an emotion rendition of her song “Praying,” which was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance, featuring Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Julia Michaels and Bebe Rexha.
The women wore all white, and the performance was punctuated with tears from the singer, who sued her producer Dr. Luke (née Lukasz Gottwald), in October 2014, accusing him of sexually and emotionally abusing her. He has denied the accusations.
Watch the performance above.