Kanye West made an unexpected return to the 2025 Grammy Awards on Sunday, marking his first appearance at the event in a decade. While the rapper, producer, and fashion designer kept a low profile, his wife, Bianca Censori, quickly became the center of attention with a nearly nude ensemble that shocked onlookers on the red carpet.
West, 47, arrived at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles wearing an all-black outfit, complete with dark sunglasses, while Censori, 30, initially donned a long fur coat before removing it to reveal a sheer, nude-hued slip dress. The bold fashion statement immediately generated buzz online and at the venue.
Conflicting Reports on Kanye West's Grammy Exit
Despite his nomination for Best Rap Song for "Carnival", West did not attend the ceremony itself, fueling speculation that he had been removed from the event. Reports circulated that he and Censori were kicked out of the venue, but multiple sources, including PEOPLE, disputed the claim.
West "walked the carpet, got in his car, and left," a source close to the Grammys told PEOPLE, denying any official removal.
West later posted and then deleted several images from the evening on Instagram, including a caption that read "love story" before his account went silent.
A Controversial Return to the Spotlight
West's return to the Grammys comes after years of public controversy, including his 2022 antisemitic remarks and subsequent fallout with brands like Adidas and Balenciaga. However, his career saw a revival in 2024 with the success of "Carnival", a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign, Rich the Kid, and Playboi Carti, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Look at Bianca Censori’s startled face and uncertain body language. Kanye West directs her. Look how she moves - it’s how he tells her to.
This is controlling behaviour and he is humiliating her on the biggest stage he can get - and one he had to invade. He’s not mad. This is… pic.twitter.com/koKnqt9Za5 — Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) February 3, 2025
West's latest album, Vultures 1, a joint project with Ty Dolla Sign, was released earlier this year, with a sequel, Vultures 2, arriving in August. The rapper has also teased an upcoming solo album titled Bully, which he says was inspired by his 10-year-old daughter, North West.
"This little girl made me love music again," West wrote in an Instagram post last year, sharing an image of North in the studio. "She asked me to make beats for her. I got back on the ASR, chopped up beats for her album, and chopped every beat with my bare hands for BULLY."
Kanye's First Grammy Attendance in a Decade
West's last Grammy appearance was in 2015, when he was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for his track "Bound 2" from his 2013 album Yeezus. That year, he also performed "FourFiveSeconds" alongside Rihanna and Paul McCartney.
With 24 Grammy wins and 75 nominations throughout his career, West remains one of the most awarded hip-hop artists in Grammy history, despite his often fractured relationship with the Recording Academy.
Bianca Censori's Fashion Sparks Debate
While West avoided speaking to the press, Censori's revealing outfit stole the spotlight, drawing mixed reactions from fashion critics and fans.
The Australian architect and Yeezy employee, who reportedly married West in a private ceremony in January 2023, has become known for her bold and unconventional fashion choices, often seen in minimalist or highly provocative outfits designed by West himself.
Social media erupted with reactions to her barely-there red carpet look, with some praising her confidence and style, while others criticized the outfit as "inappropriate" for a formal awards show.