Brit Awards: Adele cut short amid triumph
Adele has won two prizes at the Brit Awards ceremony in London, but was at the centre of controversy after one of her acceptance speeches was cut short.
Her speech was halted after she picked up the prize for best British album. She also won best British female.
"I flung the middle finger. That was for the suits at the Brit Awards, not my fans. I'm sorry if I offended anyone but the suits offended me," she said.
Ed Sheeran also won two awards - best British male and British breakthrough.
Coldplay were crowned best British group for a record third time, while former X Factor boy band One Direction beat Adele to the award for best British single.
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End Quote Brits spokespersonWe regret this happened and we send our deepest apologies to Adele”
Adele added her Brits to the six Grammy Awards she won last weekend, capping a year of huge global success. According to her record label, the London singer's second album 21 has sold 17 million copies around the world and hit number one in 24 countries.
Accepting the best album prize - the final and most prestigious of the night - she said: "Nothing makes me prouder than coming home with six Grammys and then coming to the Brits and winning album of the year.
"I'm so proud to be British and to be flying our flag."
But there were boos from the audience as she was interrupted by host James Corden in order to introduce the final performers, Blur. Adele then added: "Can I just say, then, goodbye and I'll see you next time round."
Her gesture was then momentarily visible on the live ITV1 coverage.
"I was about to thank the British public for all their support but they cut me off," the star later said backstage. "So thank you very much for all your support. It's amazing."
ITV later issued a statement about the incident, saying: "The Brits is a live event. Unfortunately the programme was over-running and we had to move on. We would like to apologise to Adele for the interruption."
A Brits spokesman added: "We regret this happened and we send our deepest apologies to Adele that her big moment was cut short.
"We don't want this to undermine her incredible achievement in winning our night's biggest award. It tops off what's been an incredible year for her."
'Humbling'Adele's 21 beat Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto, Florence & The Machine's Ceremonials, PJ Harvey's Let England Shake and Ed Sheeran's + to the best British album award.
In the best British female category, Adele beat Jessie J, Florence & The Machine, Kate Bush and last year's winner Laura Marling. She also sang Rolling at the Deep at the ceremony - only her second performance since throat surgery last year.
Meanwhile, US pop star Bruno Mars was named best international male, Rihanna picked up best international female and the Foo Fighters won best international group.
Sheeran led the nominations going into the ceremony, up for best British male, breakthrough, single and album.
He beat rapper Professor Green, James Blake, James Morrison and Noel Gallagher to the prize for best British male.
The 21-year-old told the crowd: "I honestly didn't think I'd get this one."
Coldplay were crowned best British group in a category voted for by listeners to BBC Radio 2. Frontman Chris Martin described it as "very humbling".
Speaking backstage about winning best group more times than any other band, Martin said: "They keep splitting up. They keep taking themselves out of the game. We're the only players still on the pitch. No Pulp, no Oasis. Take That are on holiday. We'll take it if they're not around."
The outstanding contribution honour went to reformed Britpop favourites Blur, who performed a medley of their hits. Their last appearance at the Brit Awards was in 1995, when they went home with four trophies.
Singer Damon Albarn said: "Last time we were here was 17 years ago and what happened that night seemed to have a really profound effect on our lives, so it's very nice to come back and say thank you very much for this honour."
One Direction won best single for their hit What Makes You Beautiful, beating tracks including Adele's Someone Like You, Ed Sheeran's The A Team and Price Tag by Jessie J and BoB.
The international breakthrough trophy went to fast-rising New York-based pop star Lana Del Rey. She told the crowd: "This award means much more to me than you know and I just want to say that without the support of everyone in this room and everyone in the UK I'd really be lost."
The event also included tributes to the late stars Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse and featured performances from Noel Gallagher, Florence and the Machine, Rihanna and Olly Murs with Rizzle Kicks.
Comment number 543.
RobG21 Minutes ago
Don't understand why people think it's bad that she didn't get a chance to say her piece, yeah, like she gets so little media coverage doesn't she? Awards shouldn't be important anyway, it's about being a musician and promoting your art. And to all the Blur haters, newsflash, this is what a REAL band sounds like doing progressive music, a band who have not spent their whole careers playing arenas.
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Comment number 511.
kramtreboryevad57 Minutes ago
I think it's time that the producers of the Brits stopped broadcasting the event live. It would look so much better if it was slickly edited rather than the shambles last night. Amazing how many times Adele was plugged before the adverts...and then cut off so Blurr could perform old material.
As Jessie J sings in her songs ' It's about the money, money, money'.
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Comment number 501.
MrKay1 Hour ago
I was on the ents committee during my collage days and was involved in organising music events with multiple local bands. From the moment the show starts trying to keep everything running to time is almost impossible so sometimes slots have to be shortened. Bands never like it but that’s the way things work. What she did was ignorant and childish. It makes you sad to be Brittish!
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Comment number 483.
marie1 Hour ago
I'm sure it wouldn't have mattered to let things over-run a couple of seconds by letting the lass finish; I understand she's achieved a lot so is as deserving as the other winniers of a chance to speak. Sporting events constantly over-run & no one turns a hair.
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Comment number 303.
cdl19843 Hours ago
I have to say, the whole show was a little disappointing. Had Blurs speech been (a lot) shorter and One Direction just had one of them accept their award, there'd have been more time for Adele at the end. And clearly, Plan B and George were not just enjoying the free alcohol either! Overall, not the best Brits, to be honest.
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