Political messaging and denunciations of immigration enforcement dominated portions of the Grammy Awards, reflecting what one analysis described as a broader cultural and political campaign emanating from Hollywood.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Political messaging eclipsed musical celebration during Sunday night’s 68th Annual Grammy Awards, with multiple performers using the broadcast to denounce Immigration and Customs Enforcement and criticize President Donald Trump, according to an analysis by Just the News.
The ceremony, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and hosted by Trevor Noah, featured a series of acceptance speeches that focused less on music and more on immigration policy and deportation operations carried out by ICE. The theme marked a shift from previous years’ celebrity activism, which has variously centered on the Israel-Hamas war, Ukraine, and other international conflicts.
During the broadcast, several high-profile artists made explicit statements from the stage. Rapper Bad Bunny, accepting Album of the Year, told the audience, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out. We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.” Pop singer Billie Eilish, while accepting Song of the Year, said, “No one is legal on stolen land. F*ck ICE.”
Singer Kehlani, during an acceptance speech for an R&B award, stated simply, “F*ck ICE.” In a separate interview with Rolling Stone, Kehlani has said she suffers from Bipolar II Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder.
Olivia Dean, who won Best New Artist, told the crowd, “I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.” Dean, 26, is British. Country artist Shaboozey, accepting an award for Country Duo/Group Performance, said, “Immigrants built this country, so this is for them, for all children of immigrants.”
Political commentary at major entertainment awards shows has been a recurring feature for years, and the Grammys were not alone. Similar rhetoric appeared at the Golden Globe Awards last month and is expected again at the Academy Awards on March 15. Critics cited in the analysis argue that such speeches frequently fail to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration or to acknowledge that individuals targeted for deportation have been accused or convicted of crimes.
On Jan. 20, marking one year since Trump’s return to the White House, the Department of Homeland Security released a summary of enforcement actions taken by ICE, detailing cases involving alleged members of foreign terrorist organizations, murderers, drug traffickers, and individuals accused of child sexual abuse and other violent crimes. In a statement accompanying the release, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “Today, we thank our law enforcement for a record-breaking first year of achievements, including more than 670,000 removals and two million self-deportations. DHS is committed to continuing to remove dangerous illegal aliens from American communities. 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens who have been convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S. We will not rest until American communities are free of the scourge of illegal alien crime.”
Public opinion polling cited in the analysis suggests celebrity rhetoric does not align with majority views. A Cygnal poll found 61% of Americans support deporting illegal immigrants to their home countries, 73% agree entering the United States without permission is illegal, and 58% oppose defunding ICE. A separate Harvard CAPS–Harris poll conducted Jan. 28–29 found that 73% of respondents support deporting criminal illegal immigrants, with more than half extending that support to all individuals in the country illegally.
The same Harvard CAPS–Harris poll found 60% of respondents believe Democrats are encouraging resistance to ICE enforcement, while 57% oppose elected officials urging defiance of immigration authorities. Analysts cited in the report said such perceptions could carry political consequences.
Former federal prosecutor and Public Interest Legal Foundation President J. Christian Adams told Just the News that interfering with law enforcement can have serious legal repercussions. “It is illegal to conspire to obstruct justice,” Adams said, warning that confronting or interfering with officers during enforcement actions is unlawful. He attributed the behavior to cultural normalization, stating that “lawlessness is in vogue in some corners of the culture.”
Despite the political overtones, the night concluded with major musical milestones. Kendrick Lamar led the evening with five awards, including Record of the Year for “Luther” with SZA and Best Rap Album for GNX. Bad Bunny made history as the first artist to win Album of the Year with a Spanish-language album. Billie Eilish and Finneas won Song of the Year, while Lady Gaga, Jelly Roll, and Cher were among those receiving additional major honors.
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