Billie Eilish transformed one of the most defining moments of her career into a bold political statement at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The American singer-songwriter won Song of the Year for Wildflower at the ceremony held on February 1 in Los Angeles, and used her acceptance speech to voice strong support for immigrant rights, earning a standing ovation from the audience.
Taking the stage, Eilish appeared visibly emotional as she addressed the crowd. “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now,” she began, acknowledging the uncertainty and unrest surrounding current events. While thanking the Recording Academy for the honour, the 24-year-old made it clear that the moment extended far beyond music. “As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land,” she said, prompting loud applause inside the arena.
Her remarks came amid rising national tensions around immigration in the United States. President Donald Trump’s stricter immigration policies, combined with reported violence linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, have sparked protests across several states. Using music’s biggest stage, Eilish urged unity, resistance, and the importance of speaking out.
“I feel really hopeful in this room,” she continued. “We just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.” During the live broadcast, parts of her speech were briefly bleeped after she added, “And f— ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say. Sorry.” The uncensored passion behind her words was met with cheers and a standing ovation from fellow artists and attendees.
“Nobody is illegal on stolen land”
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 2, 2026
“F*** ICE”
Billie Eilish is a multi millionaire and has private security. How many illegals is she offering to shelter in her home? pic.twitter.com/QVH0xrQlhi
Eilish was far from alone in turning the Grammys into a platform for activism. Justin Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber, drew attention on the red carpet by wearing “ICE OUT” pins, a subtle but powerful protest against immigration enforcement practices. The gesture quickly went viral online.
During the Grammys pre-show, singer Kehlani echoed similar sentiments while accepting Best R&B Performance for Folded. Wearing an “ICE Out” pin, she openly condemned ICE in her speech. Artists such as Jimmy Jam and Brandi Carlile also showed visible solidarity with immigrant communities.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny used his Best Música Urbana Album win for Debí Tirar Más Fotos to deliver a message rooted in humanity and compassion. “ICE out,” he said. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens — we are humans and we are Americans.”
Together, these moments turned the 2026 Grammys into more than an awards show, blending music, activism, and solidarity on one of entertainment’s most-watched global stages.