Grammy stars speak out against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The ceremony, held at Los Angeles’s Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, also celebrated Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny’s historic win. He became the first artist to earn album of the year for a record sung entirely in Spanish.
Bad Bunny’s sixth album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, also earned best musica urbana album. During his speech, he urged ICE to leave US cities and encouraged people to respond to hate with love.
He said, “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.” He added, “The only thing stronger than hate is love. We need to fight with love, not hate.”
British singer Olivia Dean won best new artist. Reflecting on her family history, she said, “I’m a product of bravery. Those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other.”
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas accepted the song of the year award for Wildflower. Wearing “Ice Out” pins, they criticized immigration enforcement. Eilish stated, “No one is illegal on stolen land. We need to keep fighting and speaking up. Our voices matter.”
Other performers joined in the protest. Joni Mitchell, Kehlani, and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon also wore “Ice Out” and “Be Good” pins. Kehlani used her acceptance speech for best R&B performance to declare, “F*** ICE.” Vernon praised legal observers monitoring ICE activity in Minneapolis.
The controversy follows the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot by ICE agents in Minnesota earlier this year. These incidents sparked public outrage and inspired many Grammy winners to speak on social issues.
Kendrick Lamar dominated the awards, winning five Grammys, including record of the year for Luther featuring SZA, best rap album for GNX, and best rap performance. SZA also received multiple awards for her contributions to the tracks.
Lady Gaga won best pop vocal album for Mayhem, along with awards for best dance pop recording and best remixed recording.
Performances included Tyler, The Creator crashing a Ferrari F40 on stage during Sugar On My Tongue and Justin Bieber returning to the Grammys after four years. Tributes honored Ozzy Osbourne, D’Angelo, and Roberta Flack.
The 2026 Grammys combined music, activism, and history, as Grammy stars spoke out on social issues while celebrating major achievements.
For more updates on this news, follow London Pulse News.
