“ICE Out”: Celebrities Speak Out at the Grammys
Photo from Grammy.com
Truth Frazier
“..I’m going to say, ICE out,” Bad Bunny said as he accepted his Grammy award for Album of the Year on February 1, 2026. Along with Bad Bunny, a number of artists spoke out against recent events, especially the increased presence and visibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) happening around the country, which has resulted in protests and walk-outs nationwide.
In recent months, the Trump administration has sent various groups of ICE agents across the country, with the most notable being Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee. ICE detains and deports immigrants who have entered the United States illegally with no proof of citizenship, a permanent resident card (known as a Green card), or a visa. However, nonpublic data provided by Cato Institute shows that over 70% of ICE detainees have no criminal charge or immigration-related crimes documented. Since the beginning of 2026, there have been eight ICE-related deaths and thousands of arrests.
That being said, the discourse involving ICE has been recognized nationwide. The media has been pushing for celebrities and influencers to use their platform to speak about their perspective on recent events, and the Grammys was a clear display of some celebrities’ opinions. Artists Justin Bieber, Kehlani, Joni Mitchell, and Billie Eilish, along with others, were all seen wearing “ICE Out” pins on the red carpet.
Kehlani also made a statement while accepting her Grammy for Best R&B Song: “I hope everybody’s inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on. F*** ICE.”
Billie Eilish won Song of the Year, and used her speech to speak out as well. “No one is illegal on stolen land…F*** ICE,” Eilish said.
Lots of artists took a different approach and decided to give an effort to bring hope and a sense of peace to their audience. After his “ICE out” statement, Bad Bunny also said, “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love…If we fight, we have to fight with love.”
Rising singer Olivia Dean also made a statement while on stage accepting her Best New Artist award: “I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We are nothing without each other."
R & B singer SZA said, “Please don’t fall into despair, I know right now is a scary time…we need to trust each other and trust ourselves. Trust your heart.”
Country rapper and singer Shaboozey said, "Immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them…this is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunities, to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it.”
While each of the celebrities noted above had clear reactions opposing ICE or supporting immigration, other celebrities avoided making a public statement. When asked backstage about ICE, country music singer Jelly Roll stated, “So I can tell you, people shouldn’t care to hear my opinion, I’m a dumb redneck. I haven’t watched enough.”
It's no doubt many celebrities showed out during the Grammys, voicing their opinions and calls to action. With the Oscars coming up on March 15, it will be interesting to see if celebrities continue this trend or shift their message.
