In a surprising turn of events, The Weeknd made an unexpected appearance at the Grammys.

The R&B sensation, who had previously chosen to boycott the awards after being overlooked in 2021, thrilled fans with a surprise performance during the 67th annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday.

His appearance was hinted at by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who mentioned The Weeknd’s earlier criticisms while discussing the organization’s ongoing commitment to diversity.

“I recall waking up to the news that The Weeknd had called out the Academy for its lack of transparency regarding our awards,” Mason shared. “But it’s alright to face criticism. I heard him loud and clear and appreciated his determination.”

Mason continued: “Ultimately, we all want a body that prioritizes the interests of all music creators and represents the music community, both now and for future generations.”

During his performance, The Weeknd showcased a captivating medley from his most recent album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” His rich tenor voice blended beautifully with the songs “Cry for Me” and “Timeless,” the latter featuring rapper Playboi Carti.

The Weeknd faced disappointment in November 2020 when he was completely shut out of all categories for the 2021 Grammy Awards, despite the massive success of his fourth studio album, “After Hours,” and a headlining performance at the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show.

Days before the 63rd annual Grammy Awards in March 2021, he declared in a statement to The New York Times that he would stop submitting his music for Grammy consideration due to “the secret committees.” In response, Mason pledged to review the award nomination process, including the review committees.

Two months later, The Weeknd reiterated his stance against the Grammys after the Recording Academy announced that nominations would be decided by a majority vote of its voting members rather than through the Nominations Review Committees.

At that time, the “Blinding Lights” artist stated to Variety that he would continue to exclude his music from awards consideration, remaining “uninterested in being a part of the Grammys, particularly after their own acknowledgment of ongoing corruption for decades.”

“The trust has been broken for such a long time between the Grammy organization and the artists that it seems unwise to celebrate a victory,” he explained. “For the win to be truly celebrated, the industry and public need to see an honest system in action, but this is an important first step.”

To date, The Weeknd has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Urban Contemporary Album (2016 and 2018), Best R&B Performance (2016), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (2022).

Contributing: Patrick Ryan, Charles Trepany and Jenna Ryu,