Coldplay beat Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian. One Direction beat Pixie Lott and the Wanted. Adele? She beat Florence & The Machine, Kate Bush and Jessie J. But when she worked her way through her thank you speech, she got cut off, and, with a smile on her face, flipped the bird to the “suits” that were running the show. Minor infractions made for good fun at the Brit Awards tonight. The United Kingdom’s largest annual music awards show offered tributes to Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse, gave Rihanna a chance to shake it up, and put Noel Gallagher onstage with Chris Martin – a rarity to say the least.

But it’s Adele’s cheeky gesture that’s getting lots of press. ”I flipped the finger but it wasn’t to my fans,” she said. “I’m sorry if I offended anyone, it was the suits that offended me.” Keeping it real, Adele-style. Here are the winners:

Female Solo Artist: Adele

Male Solo Artist: Ed Sheeran

Breakthrough Act: Ed Sheeran

Group: Coldplay

Single of the Year: One Direction “What Makes You Beautiful”

Album of the Year: Adele, 21 

International Male Solo Artist: Bruno Mars

International Female Solo Artist: Rihanna 

International Group: Foo Fighters

International Breakthrough Act: Lana Del Rey 

British Producer: Ethan Johns

Outstanding Contribution: Blur

Critics’ Choice: Emeli Sandé