Amy Winehouse's Goddaughter Slams Brit Awards for 'Insulting Her Legacy' in Tribute
Dionne Bromfield, the goddaughter of the late music icon Amy Winehouse, has publicly criticized the Brit Awards for their handling of a tribute to Winehouse during this year's ceremony. The controversy erupted after Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson was honored with the outstanding contribution award at the event, which moved to Manchester for the first time.
Mark Ronson's Tribute and Viewer Backlash
During his acceptance speech, Ronson, 50, reminisced about first meeting Winehouse 20 years ago, highlighting her pivotal role in his career. He produced her groundbreaking 2006 album Back to Black and collaborated on tracks like Valerie. His performance included their songs and a clip of Winehouse speaking fondly of him. However, many viewers expressed disappointment that Bromfield, 30, was not invited to participate, despite her own extensive music career and close personal bond with Winehouse.
Fans took to social media to voice their concerns. One user wrote on X, 'I feel like the #BRITs have missed an opportunity to have Dionne Bromfield pay tribute to her godmother, and sing the lead on the Amy Winehouse tribute part of Mark Ronson’s set.' Bromfield responded initially with a shrugging emoji before issuing a full statement.
Dionne Bromfield's Emotional Statement
In her statement, Bromfield clarified that her issue was not about seeking the spotlight. 'I want to be clear, this was never about me being on a stage for the sake of being seen or “the look”. This is much deeper than that,' she began. She revealed that since Winehouse's passing in 2011, she has faced significant obstacles in the music industry, with opportunities deliberately blocked and doors closed by specific individuals.
'Amy championed me musically in ways that didn’t always align with others around her, and after she passed, that was made clear, opportunities for me were blocked and doors were deliberately closed,' Bromfield explained. She emphasized that the Brit Awards snub was not an isolated incident but a reminder of years of struggles. 'To see so many of the people she loved musically included, while I wasn’t felt like an insult not just to me, but more importantly to Amy and her legacy.'
Bromfield concluded by stating, 'I’m not one to air my dirty laundry, but there’s only so much someone can take and sometimes things need to be called out.' Her message resonated with fans, one of whom noted that Bromfield shares an 'eternal bond' with Winehouse and should be remembered in any mention of the singer.
The Close Bond Between Winehouse and Bromfield
Bromfield was just 15 years old when Winehouse died at age 27 from alcohol poisoning in 2011. The two were incredibly close, with Winehouse actively supporting Bromfield's budding career. In a 2023 interview marking what would have been Winehouse's 40th birthday, Bromfield recalled how Winehouse 'gave her the motherly side that she wanted' in an industry dominated by adults.
Winehouse encouraged Bromfield to take singing lessons, recommended material, and even pushed for her to attend the Sylvia Young School. Bromfield first gained public attention performing on Strictly Come Dancing with Winehouse on backing vocals, and Winehouse featured in a cover of Alicia Keys' If I Ain’t Got You that Bromfield uploaded to YouTube in 2008.
Despite Winehouse's well-documented struggles with mental health and addiction, Bromfield focused on uplifting her. 'So my way of helping was by being like, if she’d been putting on weight, I’d be like, “You’ve put on nice weight today. You look really good.” Or if she’d done her hair really nice, I’d say, “Your hair looks really high today.” Just making her feel confident in herself,' Bromfield told Glamour.
Bromfield's Career and Legacy Reflections
Bromfield released her debut album in 2009 and has continued her music career post-Winehouse's death, including an album in 2011. After a hiatus, she made a comeback with the track Girl in 2025 and released the single Green Light in January 2026. She reflected on Winehouse's legacy, declaring that there will 'only ever be one Amy,' who inspired others by 'being true to herself.'
'I think anyone that really ever met her or watched interviews or anything like that saw that she was just an honest, authentic person. And that’s why I think probably haven’t seen anyone like that since, because it’s very rare,' Bromfield added.
Mark Ronson's Tribute Details
During the Brit Awards, Ronson shared a heartfelt anecdote about meeting Winehouse. 'I realised on the way here that on Thursday, 6 March, it will be 20 years to the day that Amy Winehouse came up to my studio in New York City,' he said. 'She came up to the steps, and she said, “I’m here to meet Mark Ronson.” And I said, “That’s me,” and she goes, “I thought you were an old guy with a beard.”'
He continued, 'Anyway, we went upstairs, and we talked for four hours, and that night we wrote Back To Black, and that day changed my life forever.' His performance featured a rendition of his 2003 hit Ooh Wee with Ghostface Killah and a surprise appearance by Dua Lipa singing Dance The Night and Electricity.
The Brit Awards have been contacted for comment regarding Bromfield's criticisms. The event also showcased winners such as Olivia Dean for British Album of the Year and Sam Fender with Olivia Dean for Song of the Year.
