At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, pop star Billie Eilish delivered a powerful political statement while accepting one of the night’s biggest honors. After winning Song of the Year for “Wildflower”, Eilish used her spotlight moment to criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and advocate for immigrant rights — drawing both cheers from supporters and attention from across the cultural landscape.
Joined onstage by her brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell, Eilish began her acceptance speech by thanking the Recording Academy and her fellow nominees. She then shifted to a broader message about justice and activism, saying that “no one is illegal on stolen land,” a phrase reflecting both immigrant rights and Indigenous critiques of American history. Her comments were delivered wearing an “ICE Out” pin, a symbol of support for protests against ICE and federal immigration policies that many artists and activists have criticized.
In a moment that was bleeped by television censors, Eilish continued:
“It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now … we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
She then added, “Fuck ICE.”
Eilish’s remarks came amid a wave of political commentary during the awards show. Multiple performers and winners, including Bad Bunny and Kehlani, used their stages and red-carpet moments to speak out against ICE’s actions and broader immigration enforcement policies. Bad Bunny, who won Album of the Year for his Spanish-language record, declared “ICE out” in his own acceptance speech and emphasized the humanity of immigrants.
The political tone at the 2026 Grammys reflects a broader moment of cultural expression and solidarity with immigrant communities. Many artists wore “ICE Out” pins and referenced immigration issues in their speeches and appearances, while others highlighted their own family histories and contributions of immigrant communities to society.
Eilish’s win for “Wildflower” also marked another major career milestone for the singer-songwriter, adding to her growing list of Grammy honors. But it was her uncensored political message — delivered at one of the most watched moments of the night — that became one of the most talked-about takeaways from the ceremony.
