Billie Eilish refuses to back down on anti-ICE remark, slams billionaire silence

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Grammy winner Billie Eilish is standing by her outspoken political activism, saying celebrities with huge audiences have a responsibility to speak up on issues such as immigration, inequality and abuse of power even if it creates backlash.

In a new interview with Elle that premiered on April 28, Tuesday, Billie Eilish defended using her platform for controversial causes and criticized wealthy elites who stay silent while ordinary people struggle.

Billie Eilish defends anti-ICE stance

Eilish said she was raised to believe influence should be used to help others, not simply protect a public image.

“I was raised like this,” she said. “When you have this insane platform that you can use to advocate for people, but you’re not advocating for people because you don’t want to be controversial?”

She then challenged the idea that speaking out for vulnerable communities should be considered divisive.

“Why is it controversial to step in when someone’s getting bullied and try to stop it?” she asked, adding that criticism is not a reason to stay silent.

“Yeah, you’re probably gonna have to deal with some problems, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.”

Earlier, Billie Eilish wore 'ICE Out' pin at the Grammys. Eilish has also pointed to her own giving.

She previously pledged millions from tour earnings to charities and nonprofit organizations, using that move to reinforce her argument that wealth should be shared more aggressively.

Billie Eilish's ICE remarks make waves

Eilish drew national attention earlier this year when she used an awards-stage speech to denounce US immigration enforcement and argue in support of undocumented communities.

During that moment, she said “no one is illegal on stolen land,” a line that quickly spread across social media and reignited debate over celebrity political activism.

Rather than softening her stance now, Eilish appears to be doubling down, asserting advocacy as a moral obligation rather than a branding choice.

The singer also renewed her criticism of extreme wealth concentration, arguing that people with enormous fortunes should be doing more to help during difficult times.

“We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark,” she said previously, before telling billionaires to “give your money away.”

Her earlier comments were seen as a swipe at ultra-wealthy business figures, including Mark Zuckerberg, who was present at one event where she spoke and Elon Musk, whom she later criticized online.