Billie Eilish says 'f**k ICE' during Grammys acceptance speech: 'No one is illegal on stolen land'

Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for the track 'Wildflower' from her 2024 album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft', marking the 11th Grammy of her career
FINNEAS and Billie Eilish accept the Song of the Year award for 'WILDFLOWER' onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
FINNEAS and Billie Eilish accept the Song of the Year award for 'WILDFLOWER' onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Billie Eilish didn’t arrive at the 2026 Grammys as the night’s top favorite, but she left with a major trophy and a very clear message.

The 24-year-old won Song of the Year on Sunday, February 1, for the track 'Wildflower' from her 2024 album 'Hit Me Hard and Soft', marking the 11th Grammy Award of her career. But instead of sticking to the usual script, Eilish used her moment onstage to take a public swipe at ICE and the Trump administration.



Billie Eilish lashes out at ICE on the Grammys stage

Eilish took the stage alongside her brother and longtime collaborator Finneas to accept the award from songwriting legend Carole King, just hours after the siblings walked the 2026 Grammys red carpet wearing matching “ICE Out” pins.

Billie Eilish attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Billie Eilish attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California (John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

“Thank you so much. I can’t believe this. Everyone else in this category is so amazing. I love you so much,” Eilish said, standing next to her brother.

She then pivoted to politics. “I feel so honored every time I get to be in this room. 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 continued.

“And, yeah, it’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter, and f**k ICE. That’s all I’m going to say. Sorry. Thank you so much,” Eilish concluded. 

The comments came amid protests against ICE operations in Minneapolis, following the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

Eilish has been one of the most outspoken celebrities when it comes to ICE activity in Minneapolis, frequently calling attention to the issue on social media. She has even called out fellow stars for staying silent. “Hey, my fellow celebrities u gonna speak up? Or," she recently posted on Instagram.

Billie Eilish wasn't the only artist sounding off

Eilish wasn’t alone in bringing immigration issues to the Grammys stage.

Bad Bunny, while accepting the Grammy for Best Musica Urbana Album, opened his speech by saying, “ICE out.”



“We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans. Also, I want to say to the people....I know it’s tough not to hate on these days, and I was thinking sometimes we get contaminamos,” he said.

“The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love, so please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. If we don’t hate them, we love our people, and we love our family. And that’s the way to do it—with love," Bunny added.



Olivia Dean also touched on immigration during her Best New Artist acceptance speech.

“I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” she said, closing with, “We’re nothing without each other, thank you so much.”

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