All the moments you may have missed at the 2018 Grammys

The 60th Annual Grammys saw Rihanna become a meme, a mysterious absence, a Swifty conspiracy theory and an anti-abortion gown.

While today’s post-Grammy watercooler talk has been (rightfully) dominated by the show’s powerful political statements and a classic Blue Ivy moment, some wild backstories and behind-the-scenes moments drama went under the radar.

Here are a few, featuring Rihanna as the pride of South Africa, the mystery of Lorde’s absence, a Swifty conspiracy theory and an anti-abortion gown inexplicably accessorized with a giant tiara.

(No, really. All of these things happened.)

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 26: Recording artist Lorde performs onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on January 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Album of the Year nominee Lorde refused to perform

Rolling Stone may have spoken too soon when it baptized 2018 the year “the Grammys finally got woke.” Lorde was the lone woman in the Album of the Year category, yet was conspicuously missing from a telecast that saw every one of her fellow nominees perform (Jay Z was asked, but declined). Sources told Variety that she decided not to take the stage after producers refused to allow her to perform solo like the rest of the men. Instead, they inexplicably asked the New Zealand singer to join a Tom Petty tribute performance of “American Girl.” As The Hollywood Reporter described, Grammys executive producer Ken Ehrlich and Recording Academy President Neil Portnow later confirmed the story to the press but blamed it on packed show and time constraints. Lorde’s mother was not having it, sharing a New York Times on the show’s history of gender inequality that was reinforced by yesterday’s results.

Out of 86 nominees, only 17 women walked away with a statue. Lorde must have felt it coming, because she walked the red carpet with a feminist poem stitched on the back of her gown complemented by a matching red flask.

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 28: Recording artist Rihanna performs on stage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)

Rihanna’s meme-able performance becomes the pride of South Africa

You will never enjoy anything as much as Rihanna enjoyed performing her single “Wild Thoughts” with DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller last night. Eternally grateful for the entertainment, the Internet thanked the Barbados singer by making her into a delightful, multi-purpose meme with a little-known origin story.

What you may not have noticed is that her killer choreography wasn’t a RiRi original. After a brief debate over whether it was the “stanky leg,” South Africans correctly ID’d it as the “Gwara Gwara” by DJ Bongz, and the country has been losing it ever since.

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 28: Recording artist Lady Gaga attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)

Did Lady Gaga’s ring hint at a Taylor Swift collaboration?

Perhaps reeling from the absence of their queen and looking for a sign of life, eagle-eyed Swifties spotted Lady Gaga sporting a curiously familiar accessory on the red carpet. Overwhelming her right ring finger was a massive black snack cocktail ring that looks very similar to a $60 ring on Taylor Swift’s merchandise page. Coincidence? They think not and are screaming “COLLAB.”

We don’t have the heart to tell them that the ring is probably this one from Lorraine Schwartz, worn by Gaga in 2015 — although that doesn’t exactly rule out the potential of an internet-breaking collaboration.

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 28: Singer Joy Villa attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NARAS)

Singer Joy Villa walked the red carpet in a VERY controversial gown

Singer Joy Villa is elevating her profile one controversial dress at a time, and this year’s red carpet would be no exception. Last year, Villa made a statement with a figure-hugging red, white, and blue gown that said “Make America Great Again” down the front and TRUMP stamped on her train. This year, her dress was even louder, stepping out in a gown with a hand-painted, rainbow-colored fetus, a handbag that said “Choose life” and, inexplicably, a giant tiara.

Next: Patti LuPone brought the house down at the Grammys

What was your best subtle moment of the 2018 Grammys?