During the Grammy ceremony, several musicians spoke out about current events in the USA.
At this year's Grammys, several artists publicly took a stand against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by wearing badges with the phrase “ICE Out”. Among them were Billie Eilish, Justin and Hailey Bieber, songwriter Amy Allen, Bon Iver, Jack Antonoff, Margo Price, Samara Joy, and more.
Singer Kehlani, who won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance for the song “Folded,” used her acceptance speech for a sharp political message. After urging other artists to “speak up against all the injustice happening in the world right now”, she directly added: “f*ck ICE.” She also wore an “ICE Out” badge.
Bon Iver's founder, Justin Vernon, explained to Variety on the red carpet that he also wore a badge with a whistle in honor of community watch members in Minneapolis who alert others about ICE’s arrival. “They whistle whenever they see ICE coming,” he said, adding: “They are there to protect their community, and they've been doing it for weeks. It's great to stop by here and celebrate music and its power, but the real work is happening in the streets of Minneapolis, and I want to honor them.”
Vernon also admitted he was considering not attending the Grammys after recent events. “When Alex Pretti was shot the way he was, I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to come to L.A. and be part of this,” he stated. However, hope was reignited in him by the spontaneous organizing of people in Minneapolis. “I saw them coming together without a central government like dissidents… it was the first sign of hope in a very long time.”
Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year, didn’t address anything but ICE during her speech.
No one is illegal on stolen land. We need to keep fighting, speaking out, and protesting. Our voices and our people matter. F*ck ICE — that's all I want to say.
Shaboozey also took home his first Grammy, winning in the category of Best Country Duo/Group for the song “Amen” with Jelly Roll. In his speech, he praised immigrants:
Immigrants literally built this country. This is for them and for all immigrant kids.
He added that America gains culture, music, stories, and colors from them, making it richer.
Jazz singer Samara Joy told Variety that by wearing the “ICE Out” badge, she wanted to show support for those who currently cannot speak up for themselves. “Now is not the time to be down but to speak for those who can’t. It’s the least I can do,” she explained. She also emphasized that she didn’t want to draw attention to herself without acknowledging people’s suffering worldwide.
Bad Bunny also spoke out after winning his first Grammy for Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. He couldn't hold back the tears and said in English after his speech in Spanish:
This award is dedicated to everyone who had to leave their country to follow their dreams.
Olivia Dean also didn’t forget to mention her roots during her acceptance speech:
I stand here as a granddaughter of immigrants, and I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m the product of the bravery of people who should be celebrated.
Grammy isn’t the only place for celebrity protests
“ICE Out” badges also appeared at the Golden Globes and Sundance in response to brutal ICE actions in Minneapolis following the fatal cases of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
Actor Mark Ruffalo spoke about political expressions at social events earlier at the Golden Globes. He told USA Today: “I want to celebrate here and I’m proud of the nomination, but this is no longer normal. I don’t know how I could stay silent.”
Similarly, Natalie Portman took a stance at the Sundance Film Festival where she presented the film “The Gallerist.” “We are in an incredibly overwhelming period of our history. It's impossible not to speak about the brutality of ICE and the immediate need to stop it,” she told Variety. She also praised the solidarity of people in the U.S. who protect each other and fight for freedom.
