Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B Lit Up the Grammys Stage In Spite of Bleeped-Out Lyrics
Some people just can't handle these rap girls.
![los angeles march 14 cardi b and megan thee stallion performing at the 63rd annual grammy® awards, broadcast live from the staples center in los angeles, sunday, march 14, 2021 800 1130 pm, live et500 830 pm, live pt on the cbs television network and paramount photo by francis speckercbs via getty images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uPvQmHKcAdTkBcUwSbFs6k-415-80.jpg)
The rap girls are doing what these other musicians simply cannot do. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B ate the entire Grammy stage up and left nary a crumb. The duo performed a medley of their hit songs–from Megan’s “Body” to “Savage,” to Cardi B’s “Up” and their song that angered many a conservative soul, the certified quintuple platinum smash “WAP,” which stands for Wet Ass Pussy, words which were bleeped by CBS.
Hot Girl Meg began the already historic performance with a nod to 1940s Hollywood musicals or a classic Vegas revue, with an impressive staircase set that I can imagine the Rockettes doing some kicks or a cadre of glittery, feathered dancers hitting a can can or two. Her first song was a little snippet of her most recent hit “Body,” performed with the instantly iconic choreo (see: the “Body” TikTok challenge from last November). Clad in a studded corset that recalled the 222 carats she wore on the red carpet, Thee Stallion transitioned to the early-stage quarantine bop, “Savage” featuring Beyonce.
The Grammy censoring guy during WAP pic.twitter.com/YQqTW21MJlMarch 15, 2021
Megan walked down a golden staircase, flanked by shirtless men in studded suits, strutting to the beat. She then executed an exquisite dance break full of her trademark twerking, wild splits, and a surprise appearance from masked tap dancers in garters, who referenced the famous staircase splits from the classic black film Stormy Weather. Cardi B, for her part, stood on a blank stage in her rendition of “Up,” the highest charting solo song debut by a female rapper on the Hip Hop charts. Cardi wore a futuristic two-piece and danced with kaleidoscopic images of money and Birkins in the background. The lyric “broke boys don’t deserve no kitty” was particularly memorable.
republicans are gonna be soooo mad after the cardi/meg performance. and i LOVE that. pic.twitter.com/43GcAsElipMarch 15, 2021
me after watching Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion sing WAP at the Grammys: pic.twitter.com/tZzyo4wVB2March 15, 2021
Megan and Cardi then transitioned to the performance everyone came here for–the television debut of ”WAP,” also known as the song that launched a thousand think pieces. Cardi kicked off with impressive pole dance followed by NSFW choreography with a massive stripper heel taking up a large portion of the stage. Megan then appeared in a longsleeved silver bionic onesie, while a dancer twerked inside the heel of the shoe with money fanning across body.
Perhaps the most iconic moment of the entire thing occurred after a comedically massive bed appeared, which the duo danced across and executed a dance that appeared to suggest scissoring. I mean! Who else is doing it like them?? Even Trevor Noah stood around for a bit, stunned, unable to look away at the end of it all.
Not everyone was happy with all the thrusting and suggestion of sex. CBS, the channel airing the show, bleeped out a lot of “WAP” lyrics to ostensibly “protect the youth,” or whatever. The song is clearly a celebration of female sexuality, so the decision to bleep out half the lyrics when the words themselves aren’t necessarily swear words is a poor look by CBS. Also, just let them say pussy. It’s 2021.
LET MEG AND CARDI SAY PUSSY #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/ps2Cbg6irLMarch 15, 2021
Cardi and Megan should get Oscar nominations for that performance. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/B8Q7qPXqb1March 15, 2021
Megan ate down!!!! I guess it was just her moment.March 15, 2021
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Zoe Guy is the digital fellow at Marie Claire, where she covers pop culture, hot celebrity gossip, movies and TV. She’s obsessed with Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of The Age of Innocence, anything written by Jesmyn Ward and stan Twitter.
-
Zendaya Delivers a Podium-Worthy Pre-Olympics Gown
She's shining brighter than the City of Lights.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
'Love Island USA' Star Kenny Rodriguez Is Not "Playing Around" with His and JaNa Craig's Romance Outside of the Villa
The prince and princess of season 6 have remained the cutest couple since filming wrapped.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
So Many Celebrity Beauty Favorites Are in Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale
Shop Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Markle, and Kaia Gerber's beloved picks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
The 30 Celebrity Memoirs That Are Actually Worth Reading
Britney Spears, Demi Moore, Jessica Simpson, and more drop some serious bombshells in these pages.
By Andrea Park Published
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
By Andrea Park Published
-
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ 2023: Everything We Know
Cue up Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s “Almost Paradise."
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
Who Is Gerry Turner, the ‘Golden Bachelor’?
The Indiana native is the first senior citizen to join Bachelor Nation.
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
‘Virgin River’ Season 6: Everything We Know
Here's everything we know on the upcoming episodes.
By Andrea Park Last updated
-
The 65 Best Musical Movies of All Time
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell Last updated
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy Last updated
-
The Unstoppable Alia Bhatt
Bollywood’s silver-screen darling is both at the top of her game and just getting started.
By Neha Prakash Published