At the 2026 Grammys, there was music and movement in the air. Roughly 15 celebrities in attendance either spoke out against ICE or wore “ICE OUT” pins on their red carpet garb.
When given a platform, some celebrities find it worthwhile to use it for social justice purposes; this broadcast being a stepping stone to get a message out to a country on fire. The Grammys are one of the most-watched award shows in the world; this year’s ceremony garnered around 14.41 million viewers.
Billie Eilish, winner of the Song of the Year award for her song “Wildflower”, spoke out in her speech, stating, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and concluded with, “F*ck ICE”. Though the television broadcast censored the swear word, she ended her speech with a punch that was a viral focus from the night. Her brother and musical partner Finneas O’Connell posted on X the next day, “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said during her acceptance speech. We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”
Olivia Dean, who won Best New Artist, took the stage to receive her award, honoring immigrants as well as her own roots. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” she said. At only 26 years old, she is staking her claim in the music industry and in politics by advocating for what she stands for.
Bad Bunny, or Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, who took home three Grammy awards this year including Album of the Year, made one of the most impactful speeches of the night, possibly in Grammys history. He began by saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ‘ICE out’”, which was followed by a substantial round of applause from everyone in attendance. He then continued:
“We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans…The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love”, a mantra he later repeated at his Super Bowl halftime performance.
It’s important to note that this is not the first time that Ocasio has spoken out about U.S. politics. He did not include stops in the United States for his 2025-26 tour due to fear of ICE raiding the concert venues. He also performed at halftime for the 2026 Super Bowl, much to the dismay of the conservative football fans. Donald Trump himself said he would not attend the Super Bowl due to Ocasio headlining, though it is unclear how many attendees were banking on the POTUS being there.
Actor and comedian Trevor Noah, who has hosted the Grammys since 2020, took time to make some quips throughout the night, one being, “That is a Grammy [Song of the Year] that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.” 2026 is Noah’s final year hosting the Grammys, and he decided to use this opportunity to get as many statements as he could.
Just one year after President Trump was inaugurated, the United States has seen a massive increase in ICE activity. Most recently, news of Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s killing caused the nation to erupt in a more outward distaste for the current state of the country. Music can be an escape for so many, and the Grammys recognize and highlight the artists who create a world for us to get sucked into. Yet, the Grammys also present these artists with an opportunity to reach into the real world and acknowledge and speak about what’s going on around them.
Celebrities who spoke out or wore “ICE OUT” pins:
- Amy Allen
- Bad Bunny
- Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
- Helen J. Shen
- Jim E-Stack
- Joni Mitchell
- Justin and Hailey Bieber
- Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
- Kehlani
- Margo Price
- Olivia Dean
- Samara Joy
- Shaboozey
