From stage speeches to red-carpet symbols, artists used the night’s spotlight to address U.S. immigration enforcement.
Dante Belcher
Feb 4, 2026
As anti-immigrant sentiment continues throughout Trump’s second term, this year’s Grammy Awards featured criticism toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the killings of Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti— all U.S. citizens.
“I want to dedicate this to all the people who had to leave their home, their country, to follow their dreams,” said Bad Bunny, whose album Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year and the third Latino artist to win the award.
“ICE out,” he added.
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens—we are humans and we are Americans,” he continued, noting that Puerto Rico, where he is from, is part of the United States.
“If we fight, we have to do it with love.”
This comes as many celebrities, including Billie Eilish, her brother and producer Finneas, Joni Mitchell, Kehlani, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jack Antonoff, wore pins labeled “ICE out,” criticizing the Trump administration for its immigration policies.
“ICE out”
Billie Eilish further criticized ICE after winning Song of the Year for her song “Wildflower.”
“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 said during her speech.
“It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now,” she continued.
“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,” she added.
“Fuck ICE.”
Her remarks were acknowledged by Fox News, with former sports reporter Sage Steele telling Eilish to “shut up and sing.”
“We’re all fine with immigration, legal immigration, we’re all here because of legal immigration. It’s the illegal part and the fact that they choose to ignore those facts,” she said.
“Shut up and sing, because you’re super talented, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Olivia Dean, who won best new artist, called herself “a granddaughter of an immigrant.”
“I’m a product of bravery, and I believe those people deserve to be celebrated,” she said.
Shaboozey, known for his song A Bar Song (Tipsy), referenced his Nigerian roots after winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
“Immigrants built this country, literally,” he said.
“This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity, to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories, and your traditions here.”
Kehlani, who won Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for Folded, said, “Together, we’re stronger in numbers to speak out against all the injustice going on in the world right now. I hope everyone is inspired to come together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on.”
“Fuck ICE,” they said.
SZA, who won Record of the Year for Luther with Kendrick Lamar, told people not to fall into despair.
“I know algorithms tell us it’s so scary and all is lost. But we can go on. We need each other,” she said.
“We’re not governed by the government; we’re governed by God.”
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. highlighted the “uncertainty and real trauma” happening.
“It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, even helpless, in challenging times. But music never stands still,” he said.
“When we’re exhausted, music restores us. When we’re grieving, music sits with us.”
Trevor Noah
President Trump threatened to sue host Trevor Noah over a joke referencing the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the president’s relationship to the late child sex offender.
“That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” Noah said.
“Which makes sense, I mean, because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out on with Bill Clinton.”
This comes following a previous report from The Introspective detailing released emails alleging that President Trump had sexual relations with former President Bill Clinton, with Russian President Vladimir Putin being aware of it.
“Ask him if Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba,” read the email, with Bubba being a nickname for Clinton.
Trump later criticized Noah in a Truth Social post, saying that he never visited Epstein’s island.
“Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast,” he wrote.
“It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$.”
“Get ready, Noah. I’m going to have some fun with you!” he added.
Clinton previously denied any involvement with Epstein.
The Introspective 
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