During the first weekend of February, the 68th annual Grammy Awards took place. Among the usual fashion statements, elaborate performances and excitement over awards, there were some subtle and not-so-subtle displays of political rhetoric throughout the night.
Along with the usual digs regarding the political state of the U.S., there was another clear consensus among the majority of Grammy artists and attendees: ICE out.
In response to increased activity from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and recent acts of violence, including the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, many of the artists present used their acceptance speeches as a platform to speak out. Those who didn’t get a chance to speak still showed their solidarity by donning “ICE OUT” pins.
One artist who spoke up was singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, who holds influence especially with younger generations.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said as she accepted her award with brother and producer Finneas by her side.
“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 need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting,” Eilish continued. “our voices really do matter and the people matter — f*** ICE is all I have to say.”
Another Grammy winner who spoke out was British artist Olivia Dean. While accepting her Best New Artist Award, Dean advocated for immigrants, adding an emotional touch by incorporating her personal experience.
“I want to say that I’m a granddaughter of an immigrant,” announced Dean, who has a British father and Jamaican-Guyanese mother. “I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other.”
Other artists spoke out in interviews throughout the night as well. R&B singer Kehlani, wore an “ICE OUT” pin and made critical comments of the agency in multiple instances.
“We’re too powerful of a group to all be in the room at the same time and not make some kind of statement in our country,” she said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
Later, during her acceptance speech for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, Kehlani reiterated her thoughts on the subject.
“Together we are stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice in the world right now. I hope everybody is inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on,” Kehlani said, finishing off her speech with another resounding “f*** ICE.”
An especially touching story was that of singer and rapper Shaboozey, raised in Virginia and the son of Nigerian immigrants. In his speech, he dedicated his very first Grammy to “all children of immigrants,” and thanked his mother for all she’d provided for him and his siblings despite the difficulties she’d faced as an immigrant and woman of color.
“Immigrants built this country, literally,” Shaboozey continued. “This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity. To be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity for everyone willing to work for it…Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories, and your traditions here. You give America color.”
Some artists were children or grandchildren of immigrants, others were passionate allies and some had firsthand experience as immigrants in the United States.
Singer and actress Gloria Estefan was born in Cuba and was two years old when she fled with her parents to Miami during the Cuban Revolution.
“I have been very vocal about the fact that I’m scared of what I’m seeing in this country,” Estefan told The Associated Press on the red carpet. “I’ve been living here for decades. This is not the place that I grew up in. We need to all stand up.”
Finally, one of the most memorable parts of the night was what Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny said on stage. The Puerto Rican artist took home three Grammys for Best Global Music Performance, Best Música Urbana Album and the ceremony’s biggest honor, Album of the Year. To top it all off, this win made history as his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” was the first time a Spanish-language album won the award in the show’s 68-years running.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out,” he declared while accepting his Best Música Urbana Album Award. This elicited a huge positive response online, with innumerable amounts of social media users reposting quotes from his speech.
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” Bad Bunny continued. “The hate gets more powerful with more hate.”
Later in the night when he won Album of the Year, Bad Bunny dedicated his acceptance speech — delivered mostly in Spanish — to “all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country to follow their dreams.”
Powerful words were shared by so many, giving this year’s Grammys a special meaning. To see so many pop culture figures use their platforms to speak out against injustice invoked a renewed sense of hope for many viewers.
While there is still a very long way to go, it’s encouraging to see those with influence reiterate the need for change. It’s a reminder that there’s never a “right” time or place to address injustice, and any amount of influence, no matter how big or small, is enough to speak out.
