• Bad Bunny opens multiple speeches with “ICE out” declaration, wins Album of the Year with Spanish-language album
• Billie Eilish tells audience “no one is illegal on stolen land” and uses expletive to condemn immigration enforcement
• Dozens of artists including Justin and Hailey Bieber wear “ICE Out” pins throughout ceremony

LOS ANGELES, CA (TDR) — The 68th Grammy Awards transformed into a platform for political protest Sunday night as multiple winners used acceptance speeches to condemn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, turning music’s biggest night into a demonstration against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Bad Bunny, who made history as the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year, delivered the evening’s most direct anti-ICE message when accepting his Best Música Urbana Album award early in the ceremony.

Bad Bunny Leads Vocal Opposition

The Puerto Rican superstar wasted no time addressing immigration enforcement when he took the stage at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, opening his speech with a declaration that drew a standing ovation.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out!” Bad Bunny announced, immediately addressing the controversy.

“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

The 31-year-old artist continued with a message about combating hate with love, telling the star-studded audience that the only force more powerful than hate is love. Bad Bunny later won Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” becoming the first primarily Spanish-language album to capture the ceremony’s top prize in its 68-year history.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” Bad Bunny said during his Album of the Year acceptance speech, delivered primarily in Spanish.

Billie Eilish Uses Profanity To Condemn ICE

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas both wore “ICE Out” pins when accepting Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” using their platform to issue an even more forceful statement against immigration enforcement.

“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish declared from the stage, referencing the history of colonization and Indigenous displacement in the United States.

“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.”

The broadcast bleeped the final portion of Eilish’s speech, but attendees and video footage revealed she concluded with “F*** ICE” before returning to her seat alongside Finneas.

Widespread Display Of Anti-ICE Pins

Dozens of artists arrived on the red carpet wearing pins reading “ICE Out.” Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber both wore the pins, as did Joni Mitchell and Carole King.

Kehlani, who won two Grammys for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “Folded,” told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet that she wanted to express stronger opposition to ICE.

“I wanted to say ‘F*** ICE,'” Kehlani explained to the outlet while wearing an “ICE Out” pin.

“But I think they needed some couth on the carpet or something. I’m a little couthless ruthless. I think everybody — 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, so it’s brainless to me.”

During her second acceptance speech at the pre-televised Premiere Ceremony, Kehlani concluded by saying “F*** ICE” on stage.

Other Artists Join Immigration Message

British singer Olivia Dean, who won Best New Artist, became emotional during her acceptance speech while discussing her family’s immigrant background.

“I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here … I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated,” Dean said while wiping away tears.

Shaboozey, accepting his first Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, dedicated his award to immigrants.

“Immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them, for all children of immigrants,” Shaboozey said.

Justin Vernon of Bon Iver wore a whistle pin to honor legal observers in Minneapolis who document ICE actions.

Backlash And Context

The widespread anti-ICE protests come amid heightened tensions following fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January, including the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Bad Bunny previously cited concerns about ICE raids targeting concert attendees as a reason for not scheduling U.S. tour dates to promote his latest album.

Will the music industry’s vocal opposition to ICE operations influence public opinion on immigration enforcement, or will the political statements alienate audiences who came for musical celebration?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from NBC News’ coverage of Bad Bunny’s Grammy speeches, NPR’s Grammy Awards recap, CBS News reporting on Bad Bunny’s acceptance speech, ABC News’ coverage of Grammy winners’ immigration messages, reporting by RTE on ICE protests dominating speeches, Sunday Guardian Live’s coverage of political statements, Harper’s Bazaar coverage of celebrities speaking out, Elle’s reporting on ICE Out pins, and AOL’s compilation of celebrity statements.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10