Artists advocate for immigrant rights during Grammy Awards speeches

2026-02-02

The BareStory

At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 1, several award winners used their acceptance speeches to voice support for immigrants and criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The comments were made amidst ongoing nationwide protests regarding government immigration policies and enforcement campaigns.

Bad Bunny, who won awards for Album of the Year and Best Música Urbana Album, received a standing ovation after calling for the removal of ICE from cities. During his remarks, the artist stated that people are humans and Americans rather than "savages" or "aliens," and he urged the audience to fight hate with love. One report noted that Bad Bunny, who is scheduled to perform at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, had not scheduled U.S. tour dates for his most recent album in part due to concerns regarding potential ICE raids.

Other winners also addressed the topic directly. Olivia Dean, upon accepting the award for Best New Artist, highlighted her family history, describing herself as the granddaughter of an immigrant. Billie Eilish, the winner of Song of the Year, stated that "no one is illegal on stolen land" and encouraged people to continue protesting.

In addition to the speeches, visual symbols of support were present at the ceremony. Various attendees, including Eilish and other celebrities, were observed wearing "ICE Out" pins inside the arena.

Left Perspective

Emphasis on human dignity and identity
Personal connections to immigration history
Advocacy for a moral response to conflict

Right Perspective

Direct opposition to enforcement agencies
Challenges to territorial and legal legitimacy
Endorsement of active protest

Left Perspective

• Emphasis on human dignity and identity Award winners utilized their platform to humanize the immigrant experience and reject derogatory labels. Bad Bunny argued that individuals should be viewed as humans and Americans rather than "savages" or "aliens," emphasizing the need to recognize the humanity of those affected by immigration policies.

• Personal connections to immigration history Speakers grounded their support in their own family narratives. Olivia Dean, accepting the award for Best New Artist, highlighted her personal lineage as the granddaughter of an immigrant to underscore the contribution and presence of immigrant families in the cultural landscape.

• Advocacy for a moral response to conflict The rhetoric employed during the ceremony focused on emotional and ethical appeals rather than just policy. Bad Bunny urged the audience to "fight hate with love," framing the response to the current immigration climate as a moral imperative rooted in compassion.

Right Perspective

• Direct opposition to enforcement agencies The event featured explicit calls to dismantle government operations, specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Attendees wore "ICE Out" pins, and Bad Bunny called for the removal of the agency from cities. Reports also indicated the artist avoided scheduling U.S. tour dates due to concerns regarding potential ICE raids.

• Challenges to territorial and legal legitimacy Statements made during the speeches questioned the fundamental legality of border enforcement. Billie Eilish asserted that "no one is illegal on stolen land," a sentiment that challenges the premise of the government's authority to enforce immigration laws on current U.S. territory.

• Endorsement of active protest The ceremony served as a vehicle to encourage ongoing mobilization against government policies. Speakers voiced support for nationwide protests regarding enforcement campaigns, with Eilish explicitly encouraging the public to continue their protest efforts.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• You may face limited opportunities to see specific artists perform live, as reports indicate Bad Bunny has avoided scheduling U.S. tour dates due to concerns regarding potential ICE raids.

• You might encounter sustained or intensified public protests in your area following explicit encouragement from award winners for citizens to continue mobilizing against government enforcement campaigns.

• You may observe increased political advocacy within mainstream entertainment as celebrities utilize their platforms to challenge the legitimacy of federal agencies and immigration laws.

Artists advocate for immigrant rights during Grammy Awards speeches

The BareStory

Left Perspective

Right Perspective

How it may affect me

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