Grammys: Bad Bunny says 'ICE out' during awards acceptance speech
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Bad Bunny accepts the Best Musica Urbana Album award for Debi Tirar Mas Fotos onstage during the 68th Grammy Awards on Feb 1.
PHOTO: AFP
LOS ANGELES - Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny used his first televised acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammy awards on Feb 1 to sharply criticise American immigration authorities, declaring “ICE out” to denounce federal agents’ actions.
“We’re not aliens,” the 31-year-old said on stage, after being honoured for his album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos with the Best Music Urbana award. “We are humans and we are Americans.”
Often referred to as the “King of Trap”, Bad Bunny said that love is the only thing more powerful than hate and urged people to confront cruelty with compassion.
“We love our people. We love our family,” he added.
Bad Bunny has openly criticised President Donald Trump’s administration for its immigration policies and has drawn backlash from right-wing conservative groups for being the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer, including from US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Bad Bunny skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal agents would show up to arrest his fans.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Minneapolis and students across the US staged walkouts on Jan 30 to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two US citizens.
Other attendees at the 2026 Grammy Awards made similar remarks.
Billie Eilish, who wore an “ICE out” pin, also used her time on stage accepting the award for Best Song of the Year to call out ICE, which stands for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” the 24-year-old said on stage after having her song Wildflower recognised.
American musician Damian Kulash, lead vocalist of rock band OK Go, told Reuters on the red carpet: “Right now, feeling any sense of joy and lightness feels a little bit irresponsible.
“Our own government has raised an army of, like, masked anonymous men to attack its own people and that feels utterly irresponsible for us to be celebrating anything right now.”
Amy Allen wears an "ICE out" pin as she poses with the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical award during the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
American songwriter Amy Allen, who has written songs for top singers like Sabrina Carpenter and Harry Styles, walked the carpet wearing an “ICE out” pin.
The 34-year-old said the pin has a message that should be important to everybody because there is so much going on in the US that is “horrific to see”.
“I think is really important for all of us in the music industry, in any industry. So I’m very happy to be wearing it today and hopefully see a lot of other pins out there, too,” she added. REUTERS
