The 68th annual Grammy Awards, the biggest music event of the year drew millions of viewers to watch their favorite musicians, producers and songwriters perform and be recognized for their art this past year. To me, however, the star of the show this year wasn’t just one you’d find on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; it was the clear message printed on small pins and declared in passionate speeches, “ICE OUT.”
Over the last couple of months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, has become an incredibly contentious topic. The Trump administration’s strict anti-immigration policies have led to ICE performing what can only be called a witch hunt for undocumented immigrants. Echoing history’s darkest years, ICE rips families from their homes and from each other, detaining them within disgustingly inhumane detention centers. In this year alone, eight people have lost their lives to ICE officers or while in ICE custody.
In light of recent events, specifically the murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, the detainment of a five-year-old boy, Liam Ramos, and the ICE occupation of Minneapolis, American immigrants need passionate and loud support more than ever. At this year’s Grammys, some of music’s biggest names did just that.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as the Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, left with three Grammys under his belt. Among these awards was Album of the Year, one of the Grammy’s four biggest awards, for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.” It was the first all-Spanish album to receive the award in Grammy history, a major win for Latin music and artists. In his first acceptance speech of the night, Bad Bunny opened with a simple, powerful message: “ICE OUT.”
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” he said.
This message holds significant weight when it comes from the current biggest Latin artist in the world.
Bad Bunny wasn’t the only singer to vocalize their support for immigrants and distaste for ICE during an acceptance speech. Artists such as Billie Eilish, Shaboozey, Kehlani and Olivia Dean lauded immigrants for all that they do and have done for America and its identity. Additionally, dozens more celebrities, such as the Biebers and Carole King, showed their support with pins that proudly declared “ICE OUT.” Justin Vernon, lead singer of the band Bon Iver, wore a whistle to support the communities of Minnesota and all they’ve done to protect their immigrant neighbors.
It’s apparent that a large portion of the public disapproves of ICE. According to a recent NPR poll, about six out of 10 Americans believe ICE has gone too far and is actively diminishing the overall security of the nation.
To voice their disapproval, many go to social media, where they make and share posts denouncing ICE and its goals. Unfortunately, social media activism for the average person is limited in scope. Due to the way algorithms work, most are unlikely to make their voices heard to those who need to hear them. Outside of rare instances of virality, most of the people who see, listen to and share your posts are those who already agree with you, not the fencesitters who don’t engage with activism or the people against your viewpoints. To bring those people to your side, you need a larger platform.
This is where it can be game-changing to have celebrities step in.
Musicians hold much influence in our lives. As we’ve seen with artists such as the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift, the large fanbases of pop sensations are inescapable cornerstones of society. The number of people that famous artists reach is undeniable.
People are significantly more likely to listen to the viewpoints of people they respect. I’ve watched as my sister, a person who used to never engage with politics, became more politically informed and opinionated after listening to artists she likes such as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Harry Styles and Olivia Rodrigo. Artists who people trust are more likely to sway opinions than strangers online, or even a lot of politicians.
When Bad Bunny and his peers made anti-ICE statements at the 2026 Grammys, they reached out to millions of people tuned in to watch their success. They took their moment of glory and shifted the attention from themselves to a cause they care about. Actions like this are impactful, as the atrocities ICE has committed in the last couple of months cannot go ignored. It is times like these where we need the biggest names in the world to step in, and so they did.
When I look back on this year’s Grammy Awards, my first thought will not be the awards or the performances. It will be the clear message of “ICE OUT,” delivered by people who understand the influence they hold and how they should use it.
