How music’s biggest stars protested Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown at the Grammy Awards

Entertainment awards season coincided with the Trump administration’s mass deportation crackdown in Minneapolis, forcing artists to decide whether and how to join the growing cultural revolution against immigration crackdowns.

The reaction from music’s biggest stars was evident Sunday from the Grammy Awards red carpet and throughout the telecast. Activists spent the week pressuring celebrities to wear pins to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cities, and worked with their teams to spread the word and circulate the message at several events leading up to the ceremony.

Read more: Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, making history for a Spanish-language album

Billie Eilish, Finneas and Carole King wore pins while appearing on stage. Even Justin and Hailey Bieber, who don’t usually address American politics, were having it. Eilish began her song of the year speech by declaring that “nobody’s illegal on stolen land.” British soul-pop singer Olivia Deen, who won best new artist, said she was the granddaughter of immigrants — people she said “deserve to be celebrated.” Insults flew as the winners were subjected to ICE insults several times including Kehlani.

“Before I say thank God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” Bad Bunny said to huge applause while accepting the award for Best Urban Music Album. “We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are human beings and we are Americans.”

The proliferation of buttons and frequent response was a much stronger show of support than what organizers saw at last month’s Golden Globe Awards. Public backlash has grown since a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretty, and federal agents arrested 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos. The recent arrest of journalist Don Lemon, who attended Sunday’s party, has only increased the protest.

Read more: 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were released from an ICE facility after a judge’s order

Plus, as one organizer pointed out, the Grammy Awards tend to attract a less risk-averse audience than Hollywood shows.

Bad Bunny accepts the Album of the Year award for “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026. Photo by Danielle Cole/Reuters

“These are people who are known for six-stage shows, crazy costumes, and being kind of rebellious punk rockers — like, that’s the music industry. And so, I think it makes sense that we would see good support,” Marimoto CEO Jes Morales Roquito said before the show. “These pins are about more than just a moment on the red carpet. They’re about people taking a stand and doing what they can to say ICE should be out of our communities.”

Protest pins on the red carpet

Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens were among the other artists who wore protest clothing on the Grammys red carpet.

Justin Vernon, whose band Bon Iver is nominated for best alternative album, said he blew the whistle to honor legal observers who document the actions of federal agents on the streets.

Read more: Trevor Noah draws Trump’s ire after Grammys jokes about President Nicki Minaj

“I think there’s a reason music exists and it’s to heal and bring people together,” he told the Associated Press. “But the real work is those monitors on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to shout them out.”

Earlier in the week, Mexican-American singer Becky G made a clear message to ICE on the nails she wore to the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala. At the Sundance Film Festival, several celebrities wore pins reading “ICE OUT” during their red carpet appearances, including Natalie Portman, Olivia Wilde and Zoey Deutch, who also wore a pin reading “BE GOOD,” a reference to Rene Goode, who was killed by an ICE officer last month.

Wilde told the AP that she was “horrified by these series of murders that we are somehow legitimizing and normalizing.”

“It’s really hard to be here and celebrate something so joyful and beautiful and positive when we know what’s happening in the streets,” she added. “Americans are out in the streets marching and demanding justice, and we’re there with them. And if we can do anything with our platforms, you know, we can speak out and demand ICE get out.”

Read more: The demonstrators are calling for a national strike against Trump’s immigration policies

Portman got emotional when asked about her “ICE OUT” pin at the premiere of her new film, “The Gallerist.”

“I’m so lucky to be here in a joyful, creative community that celebrates a film that we’re really proud of,” the actress said through tears. “But it’s impossible to ignore what ICE does for our country. However, I’m so inspired by all the incredible, amazing Americans who are coming out and supporting each other and being out there in the communities. It’s beautiful.”

Reasons celebrities may not talk about

Regarding the Grammy Awards, Morales Roqueto, a community organizer who founded the Latino advocacy group Marimoto, said it’s “kind of nonsense” as to which artists actually wear the pins.

She described a group of industrial forces working against the political expression of artists. Objections can come from record companies, managers or corporate partners.

“Maybe the design house that made their red carpet fashion deal didn’t want them to cut holes in the dress,” she said. “There are a million reasons why people don’t do it.”

Artists may also face personal risks themselves. Morales Roqueto referenced the Trump administration’s threats to place ICE agents at the Super Bowl halftime performance by Bad Bunny, “one of the most invincible performers” in her view.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some Latin artists wearing them,” she said of the pins. “But the truth is that just because Latino artists are rich and famous, doesn’t mean they’re exempt from the insecurity that permeates many Latino and Latino families. They may be undocumented themselves, only have a green card, or have families with mixed status.”

AP Film Writer Lindsay Bahr and AP journalist Brooke Lefferts contributed reporting from Park City, Utah.