Mother Condemns Grammys ICE Protest After Daughter's Fatal Crash
The grieving mother of a teenager allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant in a drunken car collision has described Hollywood celebrities' anti-ICE rants at the Grammys as 'sickening' and accused them of 'spreading hate'.
Tragic Incident in North Carolina
Skylar Provenza, a 19-year-old who had recently graduated in Esthetics from Dermacademy, died during a brutal collision in Cleveland, North Carolina, approximately 45 miles north of Charlotte, around 11pm on January 16. Her boyfriend, Fletcher Harris, 20, who was driving the car, also perished in the crash.
According to prosecutors, 37-year-old Juan Alvarado Aguilar was allegedly under the influence when he crossed the road's double yellow line and smashed into the couple's vehicle. The smell of alcohol on Aguilar's breath was reportedly so strong it overcame the scent of burnt rubber and oil at the scene.
Mother's Emotional Outburst
Shannon Swiderski Hamrick, 42, shared her struggles watching Sunday night's award ceremony, questioning whether any of the wealthy artists advocating against ICE had been personally affected by immigration issues. 'Try fighting that anger!' Hamrick told Fox News Digital.
In a public social media post on Monday morning, Hamrick expressed her raw emotions: 'I'm supposed to go back to work in 6 minutes. I've prayed, I've cried, I'm angry, I'm sad…it's not fair.'
Legal Proceedings and Immigration Status
Aguilar, an illegal immigrant, has had an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detainer placed on him. He faces serious charges including:
- Two counts of felony death by vehicle
- One count of driving while impaired
He is currently being held on a bond exceeding $5 million. State troopers allegedly observed Aguilar stumbling at the crash scene, even falling into an officer as he walked towards his car before being handcuffed.
Grammys Controversy and Celebrity Statements
Hamrick's criticism comes in response to several high-profile Grammy moments where artists targeted immigration enforcement:
- Billie Eilish wore an 'ICE OUT' pin during her acceptance speech, declaring 'no one is illegal on stolen land' and concluding with 'f*** ICE'
- Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, who won three awards including Album of the Year, called for 'ICE Out' during his victory speech
Hamrick contrasted these statements with country star Jelly Roll's approach, who avoided sharing his thoughts on ICE on the red carpet, saying 'I'm a dumb redneck. I haven't watched enough.' Hamrick expressed particular admiration for Jelly Roll, writing 'someone get me to Jelly Roll so I can hug his neck!!! I'm proud of that man!'
Remembering the Victims
Provenza was about to begin her career at a local hair salon. Her obituary noted 'She not only loved beauty, she loved making people feel beautiful. Her future was bright!'
Harris was a student-athlete on the men's soccer team at Catawba College, described by the school as 'an exceptional student' whose loss has deeply affected the college community.
Broader Implications and Personal Impact
Hamrick acknowledged she had tried to avoid 'the political part' of her daughter's killing, focusing instead on the drinking and driving aspect. However, she felt compelled to speak out after becoming 'overwhelmed with emotion after some of my favorite artists used their voices to advocate for something they probably haven't personally been affected by.'
The mother concluded her social media posts by thanking artists who 'kept it strictly about sharing their testimony and faith!' and urging people to 'Just be decent humans! Make better choices!'
