BRIT Awards 2023: Faux pas and best moments

Harry Styles achieved multiple awards but appeared most ecstatic embracing Stanley Tucci on stage, host Mo Gilligan infamously introduced “Sam Capaldi” before the artist, Lewis Capaldi's performance; numerous live mishaps contributed to a rocky but entertaining night.

Harry Styles’ Recognition of Female Artists… and Stanley Tucci

Harry Styles achieved multiple awards, including Artist of the Year. In his speech he said, “I’m very aware of my privilege up here tonight. So this award is for Rina, Charli, Florence, Mabel and Becky.” This was in reference to the lack of female nominees in the category.

Styles’ final award, for Album of the Year, was presented by Stanley Tucci. Tucci received a hug from Styles, who then expressed that “There’s literally no-one I love more in the world than Stanley Tucci. So this means so much!”

The Ineffective Censoring of Daisy May Cooper

The award for Best Rock/Alternative Act, won by The 1975, was presented by Selin Hizli and Daisy May Cooper from dark comedy, ‘Am I being unreasonable?’ Cooper described an off-stage encounter which was not effectively censored. She joked that she and Hizli saw the Sugababes in the toilets, “And they weren’t doing coke - they were lovely.”

Wet Leg’s Acceptance Speeches

In Wet Leg’s acceptance speech for Best New Artist, member Rhian Teasdale quoted Arctic Monkeys member Alex Turner’s 2014 BRITs speech. She said, “That rock ’n’ roll, hey? […] It just won’t go away. It might hibernate from time to time, then sink back into the swamp.” She then stated, “Man, this is so scary. And being on the telly can feel like such a boys club thing”, before thanking the women who had contributed to the production.

Wet Leg also accepted the award for Group of the Year, with another nervous speech from Ellis Durand stating, “They build small ships. And they build big ships. But they don’t build friendships.”

Spoken Slip-ups

One of the most notable mistakes was Gilligan’s introduction of Lewis Capaldi’s performance: “Here with his amazing number one single Forget Me […] it’s Sam Capaldi.” The remarkable irony of the song title, and Gilligan’s lack of initial realisation contributed to an awkward but memorable moment from the night. Clearly, as Gilligan expressed in his apology to Capaldi: “It goes to show how strong the drinks are at the BRITs.”

Edited by Lucy Wilcox