Ten days prior to the ceremony, Recording Academy president Deborah Dugan was relieved of her duties as president and CEO and placed on administrative leave from the organization. Dugan sparked controversy by claiming that the Recording Academy engaged in corruption and favoritism. The ceremony was held on the same day as the death of basketball player Kobe Bryant, to which Keys and Boyz II Men dedicated their performance of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" in his memory.