Olivia Dean praises 'bravery' of immigrants in Grammys acceptance speech amid Trump crackdown

'Yeah, I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,' Olivia Dean said in her emotional acceptance speech
Olivia Dean accepts the Best New Artist award onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Olivia Dean accepts the Best New Artist award onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)


LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean teared up as she spoke out for immigrants at the 2026 Grammys, calling herself a “product of bravery” shaped by her roots.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 1, became a platform for artists to shine and to voice outrage over the country’s ongoing deportation operations.

Olivia Dean tears up as she honors her immigrant grandparents

Olivia Dean, winner of the Best New Artist award, poses in the press room during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Olivia Dean, winner of the Best New Artist award, poses in the press room during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California (Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Olivia Dean accepted her award with a short speech honoring her immigrant grandparents, prompting an eruption of cheers from the crowd. She added that immigrants “deserve to be celebrated!”

She said, "Thank you. I never really imagined that I would be up here, let alone nominated, so thank you so much. I just want to say that an artist is really nothing without their team, Emily, my best friend, my manager, we’ve been doing this for ten years."

"So this is for you too, and my family. And I guess I want to say I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here," the British singer added. The cheers and applause echoed across the hall.

The 26-year-old then praised the bravery of immigrants as she revealed that she is the granddaughter of immigrants. "Yeah, I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated! So, yeah, we’re nothing without each other. Thank you so much. I love you, thank you so much. Bye!" Dean concluded. 

Bad Bunny reminds Grammy audience 'hate gets more powerful with more hate'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Bad Bunny accepts the Best Música Urbana Album award for
Bad Bunny accepts the Best Música Urbana Album award for 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. ( Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech for the Best Musica Urbana Album award at the 2026 Grammys to call out ICE and stress the importance of leading with love instead of hate.

At the top of his speech, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer said, “Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say: ICE out,” prompting loud cheers from the audience at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. “We're not savage. We're not animals. We're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”

He continued by emphasizing unity over anger: “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love, so please, we need to be different.”

“If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don't hate them. We love our people. We love our family, and that's the way to do it — with love. Don't forget that, please. Thank you. Thank you, God!” he concluded. 

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