BRIT Awards 2022: Adele of a night! Star sweeps ceremony as she takes home THREE gongs

Adele swept this year’s BRIT Awards as she took home three gongs at the first ever gender neutral ceremony at London‘s 02 Arena on Tuesday.

The singer won Artist Of The Year, Best Song for Easy On Me and Album Of The Year for her latest record 30 but insisted she had no plans to party after the ceremony, saying: ‘I’m going straight back to my flat, bed, and getting a McDonald’s. 100 per cent’.

Other notable winners on the night were Ed Sheeran who took home the Songwriter Of The Year Award and Sam Fender who won the Rock/Alternative act award.  

The winner takes it all: Adele swept this year’s BRIT Awards as she took home three gongs at the first ever gender neutral ceremony at London’s 02 Arena on Tuesday

Adele won the first ever genderless Artist Of The Year gong after the male and female categories were scrapped.

However, she hit back at the ‘woke’ ceremony as she insisted she ‘loves being a female artist’, after bosses bowed to calls to rid the awards of gendered categories.

Adele also tearfully dedicated her Album Of The Year award to her son Angelo, nine, and her ex-husband Simon Konecki because the record is ‘really about them’, before creditting herself for ‘putting out something so personal’.

During her acceptance speech, Adele told the audience: ‘I understand this award has changed but I love being a female artist!’, as she referenced the changes the awards board had made to the ceremony. 

Success: Other notable winners on the night included Ed Sheeran who took home the Songwriter Of The Year Award

Congrats: Sam Fender who won the Rock/Alternative act award at this year’s bash

The BRIT Awards sparked controversy last year after ditching the traditional male and female categories and switching to gender-neutral gongs for the first time in its history, causing naysayers to brand the event ‘woke’.

Organisers divided opinion and some were left outraged by the decision to switch to gender-neutral gongs for the first time in its history, in calls led by non-binary singer Sam Smith.

Bosses claimed the move was in a bid ‘to be as inclusive and as relevant as possible’ and allowed people to enter who do not identify as a man or woman.

But fans at the time blasted the change as ‘woke drivel’ at the time, with many calling for a boycott.

Wow: The singer won Artist Of The Year, Best Song for Easy On Me and Album Of The Year for her latest record 30

Dedication: Adele also tearfully dedicated her Album Of The Year award to her son Angelo, nine, and her ex-husband Simon Konecki because the record is ‘really about them’

Meanwhile, Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid were on hand to present the next award, Best International Artist.

The Friends star said: ‘We are here to present the award for the International Song Of The Year’, with nominees including Billie Ellish, Doja Cat and Drake… but Olivia Rodrigo’s Good For You took the win.

Next up, Best Pop and R&B was awarded to Dua Lipa, who was unable to attend due to a performance in Miami but she had prepared a message thanking her team and fans following the win. 

Rock legend Ronnie Wood was awarding the all new Alternative Rock category, which featured acts including Glass Animals, Tom Grennan, Coldplay and Sam Fender.

Win: Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo’s Good For You took home the award for International Song Of The Year

Thrilled: Olivia looked on cloud nine as she proudly posed with her award backstage

Outfit: Olivia added height to her frame with a pair of black heels 

The icon thanked the groups and artists for ‘keeping the rock tradition alive’, before announcing that his ‘favourite’ Sam was the winner in the category.

The award was shortly followed by Best Dance Act, which was handed over by dance legend David Guetta. Becky Hill ‘fended off fierce competition’ to bag the win.

Becky noted that it has been 16 years since the Brit Awards had a dance category as she thanked the academy for the honour, as well as a host of others since her career was kickstarted on the Voice.

‘My favourite’: Rock legend Ronnie Wood presented Sam Fender with his award

Following last year’s record breaking Best Group announcement, which saw female band Little Mix take home the gong for the first time, Eurovision winners Maneskin awarded Wolf Alice with this year’s award.

Wolf Alice said the acolade was ‘unbelievable’ as they admitted they were ‘quite shocked’.

The next award was Best International Artist, presented by Dr Who actor Jodie Whittaker and Line Of Duty star Vicky McLure. They announced that Billie Ellish was the winner.

Woohoo! Becky Hill ‘fended off fierce competition’ to bag the win for Best Dance Act

Billie, who previously won the same award last year, thanked the Brits for honouring her again before telling fans she couldn’t wait to perform later this year at Glastonbury festival.

Moments later Griff took on presenting duties as she introduced the Brits Rising Star performer, Holly Humberstone, after bagging the award last year and admitting how much it had changed her career.

Following the same tone, Olympic diver Tom Daley and singer-songwriter Celeste, announced that Little Simz was the winner of the Best New Artist award.

Receiving the award, Little Simz said: ‘Thank you so much, look at what you done mum. Look at what you done. Thanks to everyone who supported me on my journey.’

Ian Wright and Arsenal player Bukayo Saka awarded Dave with the gong in the Hip Hop/Rap/Grime category.

During his acceptance speech, Dave said he knew he was ‘difficult’ as he thanked his friends for sticking by him. Describing himself as a guy who ‘just really, really loves music’.

Honour: Olympic diver Tom Daley and singer-songwriter Celeste, announced that Little Simz was the winner of the Best New Artist award

Happy: Following last year’s record breaking Best Group announcement, which saw female band Little Mix take home the gong for the first time, Eurovision winners Moleskin awarded Wolf Alice with this year’s award

Claro Amfo then awarded Silk Sonic aka Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. with the best International Act. The duo weren’t in the country to receive the accolade, but admitted they were happy to share it – before jokingly wrestling over it.

After Adele’s third win, Succession’s Brian Cox announced that Ed Sheer was being awarded with Songwriter Of The Year, thanks to his own work and collaborations with others.

Thanking his colleagues and loved ones, Ed said: ‘My wife cherie at the drop of a hat will come to a secluded studio in the middle of nowhere where we’ll just write song after song, thank you, you’re the best.’

Adele’s appearance came as she continues to face backlash for leaving fans thousands of pounds out of pocket when she pulled the plug on her Stateside shows with just 24 hours notice.

Eerie: Moments later Griff took on presenting duties as she introduced the Brits Rising Star performer, Holly Humberstone, after bagging the award last year and admitting how much it had changed her career

Adele – who has been hiding out at boyfriend Rich Paul’s home in recent weeks – touched down at Heathrow on the weekend and was seen making her way into the airport’s Windsor Suite.

Rich, 40, was not seen at the airport after the sports agent found himself wrapped up into the controversy over the Vegas residency, which Adele cancelled just a day before she was supposed to begin performing last month.

A source at the rehearsals told Page Six late that the singer often made sobbing calls to her boyfriend that interrupted rehearsals.

‘Adele’s been crying and couldn’t get through a single full rehearsal for the past month,’ said the source, who was connected to the Caesars Palace management team. ‘Just constantly on the phone with Rich… loudly shouting and sobbing.’

They added: ‘She has barely rehearsed because she is constantly in the middle of an emotional shootout.’

Thanking his colleagues and loved ones, Ed said: ‘My wife Cherie at the drop of a hat will come to a secluded studio in the middle of nowhere where we’ll just write song after song, thank you, you’re the best’

The two were also rumored to be experiencing a rough patch in their relationship of six months, but Adele tried to squash it on social media last week.

She confirmed that she would be performing at the BRITs, and added at the end of her post, ‘Oh, and Rich sends his love.’

Amid the furore surrounding her Vegas residency, it’s been claimed that Adele wants to reduce her working commitments and make her career ‘more about her music’ following the cancellation of her Las Vegas shows.

The Mail on Sunday reported that she plans to ‘go back to basics’ after a high-profile PR campaign to promote her album, 30, including two TV specials.

Insiders say this explains her decision to appear at the BRITs and on Graham Norton’s chat show this Friday.

Achievement: Dave took home the gong for Best Hip-Hop/Rap/Grime Act

A source said: ‘There have been times in the past six months when things got too big. There have been tensions within Team Adele.

‘One minute she was living life away from the limelight, the next she was being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey.

‘Adele loves the Brits. It’s where she feels at home. She used to be interviewed by The Face magazine who really appreciated her work, then she ended up being interviewed by someone in Australia who hadn’t even listened to her album.

‘Underneath all of the millions of pounds is a normal girl from Tottenham who is not remotely big time.’