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At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, Billie Eilish used her Song of the Year acceptance speech to denounce immigration enforcement, saying “no one is illegal on stolen land” while wearing an “ICE OUT” pin and concluding with an expletive directed at ICE. The remarks were widely reported and clipped, sparking immediate national discussion about celebrities using awards stages for political protest.
Members of the Gabrieleno/Tongva people — whose ancestral territory includes the greater Los Angeles Basin — confirmed that Eilish’s Los Angeles home sits on their traditional land and issued responses noting the moment’s visibility. Tribal representatives asked that future public remarks explicitly acknowledge the Tongva to help public understanding of the region’s history.
Social media and pundit reaction was sharply divided, with many viewers praising Eilish’s stance while others called her hypocritical for speaking about “stolen land” while owning high-value property. Critics across the political spectrum questioned whether celebrity declarations on complex legal and historical matters are helpful or misleading, and several outlets highlighted the contrast between message and lifestyle.
Eilish’s brother and collaborator Finneas pushed back at detractors, accusing some of attacking his sister for speaking out and defending the choice to use their platform. Other artists at the ceremony similarly expressed opposition to ICE and America’s immigration policies, turning the broadcast into a broader moment of protest.
Commentators in media and on late-night shows debated the practical implications of the phrase “stolen land,” with some legal and policy writers arguing that simple slogans obscure complex histories and legal realities. Those critics warned that rhetoric divorced from legal frameworks of property, sovereignty, and historical context can produce more confusion than clarity.
The episode illustrates a continuing tension in American public life: high-profile entertainers increasingly use national stages to press political views, while critics — including Indigenous leaders, legal scholars, and political commentators — weigh in on accuracy and consequence. Whatever one’s view of the substance, the exchange prompted renewed attention to the history of land and the role of celebrities in shaping public debate.
