Katy Perry’s fiery performance seemed pointed at Russell Brand, who filed for divorce from her on Dec. 30. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Rihanna grinded onstage with a backup dancer, shortly after Chris Brown’s performance on the same stage. (Lester Cohen/WireImage)
Pop star best friends Rihanna and Katy Perry put on a brave face at last night’s 54th annual Grammy Awards, with both stars giving performances that could be construed as revenge numbers against their famous exes.
While Perry performed for one of the first times since her husband of 14 months, Russell Brand, filed for divorce on Dec. 30, Rihanna performed on the same stage as her ex Chris Brown, who notoriously assaulted the Barbadian pop star before the awards show in 2009.
The two stars sat next to each other and smiled big for photos, Rihanna throwing an arm over her pal’s legs while Perry reached her arm around her friend’s back. Both woman dazzled in gold looks — Perry in a stately gold gown, and Rihanna showing off her newly golden locks. But as they took to the stage to perform, neither woman appeared as carefree.
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Midway through the night, Perry debuted her song “Part of Me.” Sporting a futuristic, robot-inspired ensemble, Perry belted out the lyrics, “This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me/ Throw your sticks and stones, throw your bombs and your blows/ But you’re not gonna break my soul.”
The words appeared to be a dig at Brand — as did the fireball flames projected on oversized screens behind the singer.
Perry’s performance was a huge contrast to her showing at last year’s event. That performance had come just months after her wedding to Brand. As the singer perched on a swing, belting out “Teenage Dream,” images from her Indian wedding showed behind her.
Perry’s maid of honor Rihanna had the difficult task last night of taking to the stage shortly after her ex, Brown, performed his new track “Turn Up the Music” in a high-octane dance number atop a Rubik’s cube-like stage. The “We Found Love” singer did some dancing of her own, showing off her tight stomach in a crop top and leather shorts as she grinded on a male backup dancer. She was soon joined on stage by Coldplay.
In 2009, then-couple Brown and Rihanna had both been scheduled to perform at the Grammys but pulled out at the last minute. It was soon discovered why — the pair had gotten in a fight that turned physical. The police were called and Rihanna was taken to the hospital for injuries. Al Green performed in Rihanna’s place at the awards show.
While both Rihanna and Perry were up for major awards last night, the two left the show empty handed, as British songstress Adele swept their categories. Rihanna did however get two nods for her collaboration with Kanye West, “All of the Lights,” which won Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.