Stars slam ICE in speeches and on pins at Grammys
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Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish arrives for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 1 wearing an "ICE OUT" pin. Photo: Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images
Stars at the Grammys protested President Trump's immigration policies in speeches and by wearing pins saying "ICE OUT" at Sunday's event in Los Angeles.
The big picture: Bad Bunny received a standing ovation during his "ICE out" acceptance speech, Billie Eilish and Kehlani both said "f**k ICE" as they accepted their Grammys and Olivia Dean noted she's the granddaughter of an immigrant as she clutched her award.
- Meanwhile, Justin and Hailey Bieber and Joni Mitchell joined Eilish and Kehlani and others in wearing pins protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What they're saying: "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out," Bad Bunny said as he accepted his Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album.
- "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans," said the Puerto Rican musician, who received a standing ovation for his speech.
- "I know it's tough to not hate these days. And I was thinking, sometimes we get contaminated. The hate gets more powerful with more hate," he added.
- "The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don't hate them; we love our people. We love our family, and that's the way to do it — with love. Don't forget that, please."
Meanwhile, Eilish said as she accepted the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "Wildflower" alongside her brother, Finneas: "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 urged everyone to "keep fighting and speaking up and protesting," adding: "Our voices really do matter, and the people matter, and f**k ICE."
Context: Department of Homeland Security and ICE tactics in implementing the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies that helped get him re-elected have repeatedly sparked protests and legal challenges.
- Last month's fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota ignited further anger and prompted Democrats to push for reforming ICE in legislation that would keep DHS funded.
- ICE taking 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father into custody from Minneapolis last month drew further outrage, and Democrats called for all children to be freed from immigration detention after the pair was released over the weekend.
The other side: DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios Sunday it's "gross Hollywood would choose to demonize our law enforcement as they are putting their lives on the line to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, kidnappers, and robbers from our communities."
- She added in her email that this "type of garbage is contributing to our officers facing" a surge in vehicle attacks, assaults and death threats.
Thought bubble, via Axios' Sara Fischer: Awards shows got very political early in the COVID pandemic, but eased up on politics in the years following — only to return to advocacy during the second Trump administration.
- The Grammys tend to be more political than other awards shows and this year's ICE protests follow a similar theme targeting Trump at last year's event.
In photos: Stars wear "ICE OUT" pins at the Grammys
Go deeper: Resistance erupts over ICE's warehouse buying spree
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Billie Eilish and DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin, and with further context.
