The Grammy Awards took place over the weekend in Los Angeles, California, where several celebrities used the platform to make political statements regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These statements follow ongoing protests across the country sparked by the deaths of two protesters while demonstrating against the agency.
Grammy’s See Political Statements on Immigration
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech for Album of the Year to voice opposition to ICE, stating, “ICE out.” He continued, “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.” Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonia Martinez, is scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 8, and has previously stated he would not perform in the U.S. due to the presence of ICE agents.
Singer Billie Eilish also made a statement following her win for Song of the Year, saying, “No one is illegal on stolen land.” She added, “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just 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.” Eilish was later heard saying, “And f— ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say.”
The awards ceremony also included a political exchange involving host Trevor Noah and former President Donald Trump. Noah, while hosting, stated, “Song of the Year – that is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
Following Noah’s statement, President Trump announced his intention to sue the comedian, claiming the statement was “incorrect” and “defamatory.” Trump stated on his social media platform, “I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the political statements at the Grammy Awards?
The statements were prompted by ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the deaths of two protesters while demonstrating against the agency.
What did Bad Bunny say during his acceptance speech?
Bad Bunny said, “ICE out,” and added, “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
How did Donald Trump respond to Trevor Noah’s statement?
President Trump said he would be sending his lawyers to sue Trevor Noah, claiming Noah’s statement about Epstein Island was “incorrect” and “defamatory.”
As these events unfold, it remains to be seen whether the statements made at the Grammy Awards will further galvanize the debate surrounding ICE and immigration policy, or if President Trump will follow through with legal action against Trevor Noah.
