Entertainers Who Turned Down Major Awards

Most actors spend their lives dreaming of the day they finally win their Oscar, and musicians wear a Grammy nomination as if it’s as important as the award itself. These are huge accolades, but do they mean anything at all?

Not everyone thinks so. These stars famously rejected major awards — sometimes the reasons were political, sometimes the reasons were personal, and other times it seemed like they just wanted attention. See which rock star faxed a harsh response to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame after learning he was going to be inducted.

Sinead O’Connor Boycotts Materialistic Values

Image Credit: Steve Granitz / Contributor

Sinead O’Connor was always a force to be reckoned with. She’s deeply rooted in her values and won’t compromise, even if it means passing on the upper echelons of success.

In 1991, the Irish singer-songwriter turned down her Grammy nomination and withdrew from the competition. Why? She was boycotting “false and destructive materialistic values” of the music industry.