Additional Coverage:
- From Bad Bunny to Billie Eilish, celebrities sounded off on ICE at the 2026 Grammys (businessinsider.com)
Grammys 2026: Music’s Biggest Night Becomes a Platform for Immigration Advocacy
This year’s Grammy Awards, celebrated on Sunday, transcended their usual role as music’s premier event, transforming into a powerful stage for prominent artists to voice strong political stances on immigration. Amid ongoing nationwide protests and heightened immigration enforcement, musicians seized their moments in the spotlight to deliver impassioned messages.
The evening’s most impactful statement came from Bad Bunny, who made history by winning Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”-the first all-Spanish album to claim this prestigious award. He dedicated his win to “all the people that had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.”
Earlier in the ceremony, while accepting the award for Best Música Urbana Album, the Puerto Rican superstar directly challenged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he declared.
He further underscored the humanity of his fellow Latinos and Puerto Ricans, stating, “We’re not savage. We’re not animals.
We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
He concluded, “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
A light-hearted exchange with Grammys host Trevor Noah also saw Bad Bunny clarify the status of Puerto Ricans. When Noah jokingly asked if he could live in Puerto Rico if things worsened in America, Bad Bunny responded, “Trevor, I have news for you. Puerto Rico is part of America.”
Bad Bunny has previously expressed concerns about ICE, telling i-D magazine that he opted to skip his latest mainland U.S. tour due to fears of agents being present outside his concerts. He emphasized his desire to connect with Latino fans but cited the potential for ICE presence as a significant deterrent.
Other artists echoed Bad Bunny’s sentiments throughout the evening. London-born singer Olivia Dean, accepting the award for Best New Artist, highlighted her immigrant heritage.
“I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” Dean stated. “I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Later, Billie Eilish, while accepting Song of the Year for “Wildflower” from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” delivered a powerful message: “No one is illegal on stolen land.” She added, “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now.
I feel like we just need to keep fighting and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people do matter.”
The “ICE out” message was also visibly present through pins worn by numerous attendees, including Billie Eilish, her brother and producer Finneas O’Connell, Carole King, Justin and Hailey Bieber, and Kehlani. Kehlani, who won Best R&B Performance, explicitly told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet, “I really wanted to say f*** ICE.
We’re too powerful of a group to all be in a room at the same time and not make some kind of statement in our country. It’s brainless to me.”
The 2026 Grammys will undoubtedly be remembered not only for its musical accolades but also as a significant moment when artists collectively amplified a crucial social and political message.
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- From Bad Bunny to Billie Eilish, celebrities sounded off on ICE at the 2026 Grammys (businessinsider.com)