LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Everyone felt sorry for Kendrick Lamar after the dazzling young rapper was shut out at the Grammy Awards ― even Macklemore, the guy who beat him head-to-head in several categories.

Macklemore sent Lamar an apologetic text after winning in the best rap album category, one of two discussion-worthy moments the Seattle rapper engineered Sunday night. That was one of four awards for best new artist Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and the one that sparked the most grumbling.

“You got robbed,” Macklemore wrote in a text to Lamar that he later posted on Instagram. “I wanted you to win. You should have. It’s weird and sucks that I robbed you.”

It was a unique moment in Grammy history ― almost as unique as Macklemore’s other moment: the mass on-air wedding that included same-sex couples performed during the duo’s rendition of gay-rights anthem “Same Love.”

Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, has made no secret of his opinion in the best rap album category, declaring early on that he felt Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” should win best rap album over his own record “The Heist.” Drake, Jay Z and Kanye West also were nominated in the category, but the hip-hop community seemed to throw its hopes behind Lamar, a 26-year-old Compton native and Dr. Dre protege who has deep respect from his peers because of his raw talent, verbal abilities and cinematic vision.

Haggerty’s publicist said the Seattle rapper was unavailable to discuss his text Monday morning, but he had explained his feelings in an interview with the Associated Press last week.