THE BRITs are back, baby, and with acts like Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and Sam Fender up for awards, you can guarantee there’ll be plenty of stumbling out of clubs once celebrations wrap up.
But the music industry isn’t always a happy song and dance.
Dua Lipa is in the running to win Best Album for her release Radical Optimism[/caption]
Comedian Jack Whitehall is set to host this year’s ceremony at the O2 arena[/caption]
And when things get so publicly feisty, you’re left with an awards show with a lot more losers than winners.
Band-breakups and long-running rivalries can be managed when the warring parties are kept far apart from each other.
Make them watch each other win awards in front of all of their peers, however, and it’s a whole different story.
With a bunch of boozed-up musicians in the same room, competing for much-coveted trophies, it’s little wonder the awards show has seen so many chaotic moments throughout the years.
Tonight’s ceremony, hosted by Jack Whitehall at the O2 Arena, promises to be a belting show with Charli, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan lined up to perform.
But anything could happen – as previous ceremonies have proved.
So join us as we look back at the BRIT Award’s most ridiculous feuds.
Westlife vs So Solid Crew
Back when boybands and girlbands were dominating the charts, Irish stars Westlife were backstage when they bumped into rivals So Solid Crew at the 2002 edition of the awards.
Brian McFadden had apparently been making the most of the booze on offer, drinking two bottles of vodka and eight cans of Red Bull.
He then threw a water bottle over all 24 members of the hip-hop collective when they were gathered behind the scenes.
Hip-hop collective So Solid Crew reportedly chucked champagne over Westlife’s Brian McFadden[/caption]
But that evening So Solid Crew also reportedly threw champagne bottles at the Westlife singer after he goaded them onstage.
It’s unclear exactly who got who first, but So Solid Crew were gracious enough to say they wouldn’t be holding a grudge after the incident.
“At the Brits everyone’s had a lot to drink and says a lot of things that they don’t mean,” said member Asher D.
“We don’t hold nothing against Westlife – we just want to keep everything clean cut on the industry scene.”
Sam Smith vs backstage crew
Sam Smith was left in a rage after their performance was nearly scrapped[/caption]
It’s not all that surprising Sam Smith got a bit heated given the giant latex outfit they rocked up in for 2023’s awards.
Things apparently got tense ahead of the singer’s live performance of Unholy when technical difficulties with the £500,000 set almost led to the whole thing being scrapped.
Sam is said to have kicked up quite the fuss as backstage crew scrambled to sort technical difficulties, which led to a video montage of Adele briefly being broadcast.
Though the performance ended up going ahead, Sam soon made a swift exit.
“Sam’s performance might have appeared seamless but behind-the-scenes it was a nightmare,” a witness said at the time.
“Stormzy was moved forward and Sam was told there was a possibility their performance might be pulled altogether.
“Sam was understandably furious and it was pretty tense backstage.”
Kings of Leon vs themselves
Not even Nicole Appleton could break up the fight that broke out shortly after Kings of Leon won two gongs[/caption]
Tennessee rockers Kings of Leon had just picked up two awards at 2009’s ceremony, but this didn’t stop a full-scale drunken 20-man brawl from breaking out in front of stars including U2 and David Hasselhoff.
Security guards were immediately called to break up the fight between the band, who are all related, and send them back to their dressing room.
Tensions apparently flared when Jared Followill’s girlfriend spotted him chatting to a girl in Alesha Dixon’s band and flung a glass of water over her.
It looked like a comedy Western brawl. It was over in about three minutes
Onlooker
This triggered a massive argument, despite efforts from ex-All Saints singer Nicole Appleton to calm things down.
“It was about 10pm and everyone was hanging around backstage and at the bar. U2 were still there along with the Ting Tings when it just came out of nowhere,” an onlooker commented.
“It went from one person to a huge crowd in seconds. Security piled in and had to drag them apart. There was a lot of shouting and fists being thrown but I’m not sure if anything landed.
“It looked like a comedy Western brawl. It was over in about three minutes.”
Sharon Osbourne vs Vic Reeves
A fiery Sharon Osbourne shocked the audience with her on-stage call out of Vic Reeves[/caption]
Poor old Vic Reeves was already struggling to read the autocue while presenting the best British album award when host Sharon Osbourne completely took it out on him on stage.
The famously sharp-tongued X Factor judge branded the comedian a “drunk b*stard” and “p***head”, drawing gasps from stars in the audience.
Vic later insisted he wasn’t drunk at all and was in fact trying to avoid a potential mix-up over what award he was supposed to hand out.
He said: “They said, ‘You’re not doing the other award now, you’re going to do best album. What you’ve got to say will be on an autocue there’.
“So I got out there and there was no autocue. I didn’t know what I was doing.
“I thought [Sharon] was a terrible cow but that’s what I thought before I met her anyway,” he added.
Chumbawumba vs John Prescott
John Prescott was left drenched at 1998’s awards show[/caption]
Labour heavyweight John Prescott was knocked down but had no trouble getting up again – despite being left with a hefty dry-cleaning bill when Chumbawamba’s Danbert Nobacon poured a bucket of cold water all over him.
Prezza had only just sat down with a bunch of high-flying music execs when the drummer strode over and left him drenched, before being grabbed by security and handed over to police.
Apparently a move to support striking dock workers, in the end Prescott chose not to register a formal complaint and dismissed it as a publicity stunt.
“If John Prescott has the nerve to turn up at events like the BRIT Awards in a vain attempt to make Labour seem cool and trendy, then he deserves all we can throw at him,” Danbert later said.
“Plus, we were drunk and we weren’t careerists, so we didn’t give a sh** when the BRITs backlash happened.”
Prescott got his own back when the band split in 2012, tweeting “Chumbawho?”, before adding “I might mark Chumbawama’s split by going out and buying their greatest hit album. #boom.”
Peter Kay vs Liam Gallagher
The year was 2010, and rowdy Liam Gallagher had just picked up the award for Best British Album of the Past 30 Years – thanking everyone except his brother, of course.
The Oasis frontman then lobbed the award into the crowd and chucked the mic on the floor in a lame rage at the fact his best days were behind him.
Thankfully, hosting that evening was Peter Kay.
That might be the reason why I’ve never been invited back to present the BRITs again
Peter Kay
Shaking his head as he returned to the stage, he quickly summed up the mood in the room when he said live on-air: “What a kn*bhead”.
The comedian later commented that he “wasn’t trying to be controversial or stir trouble.”
“I just said what was on my mind. That might be the reason why I’ve never been invited back to present the BRITs again,” he added.
CMAT vs ITV
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT made quite the statement with her crack-out red carpet number[/caption]
Why is cleavage okay for the cameras but not your bare bum crack?
This is the question the Irish singer-songwriter CMAT tried to answer when she rocked up to last year’s red carpet in an outfit that did little to exclude the draft.
The unique creation definitely won the artist – real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson – plenty of new fans, but unfortunately ITV wasn’t one of them.
Her bum ended up being completely censored during reruns of 2024’s show, prompting CMAT to start a “feud” with the broadcaster.
She posted: “I had the most fun ever thank you so much @brits i am so so grateful…and now, for a beef. @itv you will PAY for editing my bum crack out of the broadcast reruns.
“Give the people what they deserve (my arse) or I will set the CMAT babies on you!
“Tis a #feud officially.”
Brit Awards 2025 nominations in full
Album of the Year
Charli XCX – Brat
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
Artist of the Year
Beabadoobee
Central Cee
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Fred Again
Jamie xx
Michael Kiwanuka
Nia Archives
Rachel Chinouriri
Sam Fender
Group of the Year
Bring Me The Horizon
Coldplay
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Best New Artist
English Teacher
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Myles Smith
Rachel Chinouriri
Song of the Year
Artemas – i like the way you kiss me
The Beatles – Now and Then
Bl3ss & Camrin Watson feat. Bbyclose – Kisses
Central Cee & Lil Baby – BAND4BAND
Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess
Chase & Status and Stormzy – Backbone
Coldplay – Feelslikeimfallinginlove
Dua Lipa – Training Season
Ella Henderson feat. Rudimantal – Alibi
Jade – Angel of My Dreams
Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
KSI feat. Trippie Red – Thick Of It
Myles Smith – Stargazing
Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me
Sonny Fodera, Jazzy & D.O.D – Somedays
International Artist of the Year
Adrianne Lenker
Asake
Benson Boone
Beyonce
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Tyler the Creator
International Group of the Year
Amyl and the Sniffers
Confidence Man
Fontaines D.C.
Future and Metro Boomin
Linkin Park
International Song of the Year
Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
Beyonce – Texas Hold ‘Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
DJO – End of Beginning
Eminem – Houdini
Hozier – Too Sweet
Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – Fortnight
Teddy Swims – Lose Control
Tommy Richman – Million Dollar Baby
Alternative/Rock Act
Beabadoobee
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Sam Fender
Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
Central Cee
Dave
Ghetts
Little Simz
Stormzy
Dance Act
Becky Hill
Charli XCX
Chase & Status
Fred Again
Nia Archives
Pop Act
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Jade
Lola Young
Myles Smith
R&B Act
Cleo Sol
Flo
Jorja Smith
Michael Kiwanuka
Raye
Ronnie Wood vs DJ Brandon Block
The DJ made an undignified exit after the Stones legend chucked his drink at him[/caption]
In the middle of trying to present the award for Best Soundtrack Album during 2000’s BRIT ceremony, Stones legend Ronnie Wood found himself having to square up to a very rowdy member of the audience.
After (almost) drinking the venue dry, DJ Brandon Block was told by friends he’d entered a contest and had won “Best Musician of the Year” – which of course was total fiction.
But that didn’t stop the wobbly DJ from heading to the stage to collect his award, still holding his chopsticks.
The pair squared up and chucked insults at each other before Ronnie threw his drink over him and the invader was unceremoniously ejected by bouncers.
Ronnie later said: “I just reacted like anybody would normally do. If an invader comes on stage, you don’t know if he’s gonna jab you with the chopsticks and go for the eyes or whatever, I didn’t know what the hell was going on.
“So my immediate thing was a defensive tactic which was just to waste my vodka on him and to call him out.”
A View from Inside the BRITs
WHAT are the BRIT awards really like on the inside? The Sun’s showbiz man JACK HARDWICK reveals all…
The holy grail ticket for anyone going to the Brits is a table ticket.
But it wasn’t until 2023 that I finally made it to the tables – seven years since my first Brits awards.
Prior to that I’d been in a suite which are hosted by a range of brands and sponsors, often filled with reality TV stars such as Gemma Collins, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Gorka Marquez.
These kind of celebs who are household names but not quite at the level a brand or music label is willing to shell out a four figure sum to seat them on their table.
Unless you’re a VIP celebrity guest, the red carpet is off limits.
Those special guests will be whisked round the back of the O2 in chauffeur driven cars before strutting their stuff in front of a wall of flashing cameras.
But the rest of the table and suite guests are ferried through the main O2 Arena entrance in a far less glam maner.
Inside, the venue floor is transformed into a giant dining hall with music blasting through the speakers.
Over 100 tables are spread out around the stage, each holding about ten people.
Most belong to one of the three record label giants – Sony, Warner or Universal and others are sold to sponsors or industry giants including ITV and TikTok.
When it comes to booze, it depends what package the table host has splashed out on but it usually flows freely and guests take full advantage.
In 2024, Kylie Minogue proudly stocked her table with her own branded wines and prosecco.
Everyone I know who has been lucky enough to get a table ticket before has been for a cheeky wander to see if they can spot anyone famous.
A lot of the guests are industry execs, but over the years I’ve spotted everyone from Harry Styles and Dua Lipa to Joel Dommett and Maya Jama enjoying a chin-wag with one another.
As for the toilets, all guests use the same bogs that many readers will be familiar with having attended gigs at the O2.
It’s easy to forget it’s a live TV show so make sure you time it right when it comes to a loo break.
I once nipped out mid show, only to be caught live on ITV shimmying past Shania Twain’s table in my not so subtle suit as cameras descended on her for a quick interview.
All table guests are treated to a stunning three course meal put on by swanky caterers Payne and Gunter.
They focus on providing healthy, locally sourced produce.
This year’s meal is a starter of Lincolnshire celeriac and oyster leaf mouse pearl, fermented beetroot and apple carpaccio nettle emulsion, sea vegetables and seaweed caviar.
I would love to be able to tell you I know what any of that means but sadly I don’t.
The main is Home counties shawarma spiced venison, haunch stuffed hispi cabbage,garlic, misco and herb cream, XO sauce and shoestring fries. Or if you ask me, steak and chips.
As with any event at the 02, the traffic can be a total nightmare.
While 90% of the guests stay till the very end, during the final 45 minutes you’ll see a slow but steady trickle of stars leaving.
Rather than being rude, many of them are being whisked off to their hotels for a quick outfit change and retouch of glam before hitting the after parties.
Warner Music usually host the most lavish bash – going all out to impress. Last year’s event saw me bump into Kylie and Dua and in previous years I’ve been at the bar with Noel Gallagher and actress Maisie Williams.
Most have their wits about them – especially now everyone has a camera on their phones – but some are still letting their hair down.
Abbey Clancy is no stranger to being the last woman standing while Ed Sheeran has needed a steady hand to make it to his car in the past.
Hopefully this year’s ceremony will once again be a night to remember.
