Grammys 2026 Sees Major Anti-ICE Protest as Celebrities Wear 'ICE Out' Pins
The 2026 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles became a platform for political protest as numerous celebrities used the red carpet and ceremony to speak out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Artists Make Powerful Statement with Accessories
Music's biggest night kicked off with a powerful political statement as artists including Kehlani, Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, Margo Price, Jason Isbell and Rhiannon Giddens were seen wearing "ICE out" pins at Sunday night's ceremony. The accessories represented solidarity with anti-ICE protests happening across America, particularly in Minneapolis following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
This marked the continuation of a protest movement that began at last month's Golden Globes awards, where stars first sported the tiny accessories along with pins that said "Be Good" to pay tribute to Good, a 37-year-old mother who was shot and killed January 7 by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Kehlani's Unapologetic Condemnation
Thirty-year-old singer Kehlani made her position clear both on the red carpet and during her acceptance speeches. Before the televised ceremony began, the "Honey" singer was awarded Best R&B performance and Best R&B Song for her song "Folded."
On the red carpet, Kehlani told the Hollywood Reporter: "I wanted to say f*** ICE. But I think they needed some couth on the carpet or something. I'm a little couthless ruthless. I think everybody — we're too powerful of a group to all be in a room at the same time and not make some kind of statement in our country, so it's brainless to me."
During her second acceptance speech of the night, she expanded on her message: "Together, we're stronger in numbers, [and must] to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now. I hope everybody's inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what's going on." She concluded the speech by repeating: "F*** ICE."
Legendary Artists Join the Protest
Joni Mitchell, the iconic singer-songwriter, wore the protest pin as she accepted the award for Best Historical Album for her record Joni Mitchell Archives - Volume 4: The Asylum Years — 1976-1980. Her participation added significant weight to the protest movement, demonstrating that artists across generations were united in their opposition to ICE policies.
Additional Voices of Support
Justin Vernon, whose band Bon Iver was nominated for best alternative music album, told the Associated Press that he wore a whistle to honor the people who documented ICE officers' actions in Minneapolis.
"I think there's a reason that music exists and it's to heal and to bring people together," Vernon told the outlet. "But the real work are those observers on the on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to want to shout them out."
The collective action at the Grammys represents a significant moment in the intersection of entertainment and political activism, with artists using their platform to draw attention to immigration enforcement practices that have sparked nationwide protests.
