Beyoncé Was Removed from All Nominations at the American Music Awards After Karoline Leavitt Spoke Out and Exposed the Whole Truth About Her and Jay-Z. “They Manipulate Everything.”
In a shocking turn of events, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, one of the most celebrated artists in music history, was reportedly stripped of her three nominations at the 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) following explosive allegations from Karoline Leavitt, a prominent political figure and Trump administration spokesperson. Leavitt’s claims, made during a fiery interview on a conservative news outlet in April 2025, accused Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, of manipulating award show outcomes through their influence in the music industry. “They manipulate everything,” Leavitt declared, sparking a firestorm that allegedly led to the AMAs’ unprecedented decision to remove Beyoncé from contention.
The 2025 AMAs, set to air on May 26 from Las Vegas with Jennifer Lopez as host, initially recognized Beyoncé for Album of the Year, Favorite Female Country Artist, and Favorite Country Album for her genre-defying Cowboy Carter. The album, which topped the Billboard 200 and earned critical acclaim, marked Beyoncé’s bold venture into country music, spotlighting Black artists’ contributions to the genre. Her nominations followed a historic Grammy sweep in February 2025, where she won Album of the Year and Best Country Album, becoming the first Black woman to claim the former since Lauryn Hill in 1999. However, Leavitt’s allegations cast a shadow over these achievements, questioning the legitimacy of Beyoncé’s accolades.
Leavitt, known for her outspoken critiques of progressive figures, claimed that Beyoncé and Jay-Z leveraged their wealth and industry connections to secure nominations and wins, undermining the integrity of fan-voted awards like the AMAs. “They’ve been pulling strings for years,” she alleged, pointing to Jay-Z’s 2024 Grammy speech where he criticized the Recording Academy for snubbing Beyoncé in the Album of the Year category. Leavitt suggested that the couple’s influence extended to manipulating fan votes through coordinated social media campaigns and industry pressure. While she provided no concrete evidence, her comments resonated with a segment of the public skeptical of award show fairness, fueling online debates on platforms like X.
The AMAs, overseen by CBS and Dick Clark Productions, faced intense pressure to respond. Sources close to the organization, speaking anonymously, claimed that the decision to remove Beyoncé’s nominations was made to “preserve the awards’ credibility.” The move stunned fans and industry insiders, as Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter had been a cultural phenomenon, breaking records and earning 11 Grammy nominations. Critics argued that the AMAs succumbed to political sensationalism, noting that Leavitt’s accusations aligned with broader conservative narratives targeting progressive artists. Posts on X reflected the divide: some users hailed Leavitt for “exposing the truth,” while others decried the AMAs for punishing Beyoncé without proof.
The fallout has raised questions about the intersection of politics and entertainment. Leavitt, a rising star in Republican circles, has previously critiqued cultural figures, but her targeting of Beyoncé and Jay-Z marks a bold escalation. The couple, known for their philanthropy and advocacy, has yet to respond publicly, though sources close to them suggest they are considering legal action against Leavitt for defamation. Meanwhile, the AMAs’ decision has drawn scrutiny for its lack of transparency, with no official statement explaining Beyoncé’s removal. Industry analysts warn that the move could alienate fans, given that the AMAs rely on public voting, which opened on VoteAMAs.com in April 2025.
Beyoncé’s exclusion contrasts with the AMAs’ diverse nominee list, led by Kendrick Lamar with 10 nominations, followed by Post Malone, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan. Her absence risks overshadowing the event, which promised performances and a celebration of music’s biggest names. For Beyoncé, the snub follows a pattern of resistance from country music institutions, as Cowboy Carter was overlooked by the 2024 CMA Awards and 2025 ACM Awards despite its Grammy success. Yet, her resilience remains evident, with her 2025 Cowboy Carter tour selling out stadiums.
As the AMAs approach, the controversy underscores the challenges of navigating fame in a polarized era. Whether Leavitt’s claims hold weight or prove to be a political ploy, Beyoncé’s legacy as a trailblazer endures, even as the industry grapples with questions of fairness and influence.
Sources: Information drawn from web sources, including USA Today (April 2025), Billboard (November 2024), and Vanity Fair (November 2024), and posts on X.
