Kamal Ghorui
The Grammys followed a familiar script: a brilliant monologue by Trevor Noah, blockbuster stars from Lady Gaga to Justin Bieber gracing the carpet, and wholesome performances by Rosé & Bruno Mars and Tyler, the Creator. And yet, artists refused to let the night remain just another gala; many used the platform to speak out forcefully against the brutalities of ICE operations.Some might argue that Hollywood stars wearing “ICE OUT” pins or speaking against ICE is equivalent to celebrities endorsing US presidential candidates, and that it does not really matter. But now, more than ever, such statements are being appreciated. It is essential to reiterate the issue across all contexts. As Billie Eilish put it, “I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter. ‘F**k Ice’ is all I want to say, sorry.”The red carpet set the tone for the evening. The “ICE OUT” pins became one of the most recurring accessories. Worn over all-black ensembles, the tiny yet striking pins drew immediate attention. Artists who donned the pin as a political statement included Kehlani, Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, Ammy Allen, Carole King, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Joni Mitchell. Some were also seen wearing “Be Good” pins in tribute to Good, a 37-year-old mother who was shot and killed on January 7 by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.Singer Samara Joy told Variety that she wore an “ICE Out” pin because “now is not the time to get super down or downtrodden about what’s going on, but to speak up and speak out for those who can’t at the moment. It’s the least I could do.”She continued, “I want to stand up. I don’t want to draw attention to myself all the time without recognising the humanity of all the people experiencing tragedies around the world. I want to speak up for those who can’t.”Justin Vernon, whose band Bon Iver was nominated for best alternative music album, told the Associated Press that he wore a whistle in honour of people who documented ICE officers’ actions.“I think there’s a reason that music exists and it’s to heal and to bring people together,” Vernon told the outlet. “But the real work are those observers on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to want to shout them out.”
Lady Gaga was seen wearing the ‘ICE OUT’ pin at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
To their credit, the artists did not stop there. Many vocalised their anger, disappointment and sadness at the current political context in America. Kehlani, during her acceptance speech for the first of two R&B awards for Folded, used her moment on stage to push for a united stand across the music industry. “Together we’re stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now … I hope everybody’s inspired to join together as a community of artists, so I’mma leave this and say: fuck ICE,” she said.Later in the night, best new artist winner Olivia Dean reflected on her own family history. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant – I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” she said, delivering the message with the same quiet strength that defines her music.If that resonated with audiences, Bad Bunny’s speech struck an equally powerful note. Accepting his award, he said, “ICE out. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” adding, “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. Please, we need to be different. If we fight we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them … that’s the way to do it, with love. Don’t forget that, please.”Bad Bunny also made history as the first Latin artist to win album of the year in the 68-year history of the Grammy Awards. In 2025, he excluded the United States from his 2025–2026 world tour due to fears of ICE raids targeting his fanbase, opting instead for a residency in Puerto Rico and international dates.SZA, while collecting the Record of the Year award for her Kendrick Lamar collaboration Luther, urged audiences to hold on to hope. “Please don’t fall into despair,” SZA said.“We can go on, we need each other, we need to trust each other and trust ourselves. Trust your heart. We’re not governed by the government, we’re governed by God.”
