Swedish pop sensation Zara Larsson has unleashed a furious social media tirade against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), passionately declaring her support for immigrants, trans people, and socialism while branding the agency's agents as 'criminals'.
Larsson's Explosive Instagram Rants
The 28-year-old singer, a long-time advocate for left-wing causes, posted a series of impassioned statements to her Instagram story. Her outburst was a direct reaction to the shooting of Minnesota woman Renee Nicole Good, an incident involving an ICE officer.
In one particularly blunt post, Larsson wrote: "Idk about yall but I'd rather have someone smoking crack on my couch than a f**king ICE agent ewwwwwwwww. They're criminals too. Killing, kidnapping, violent, hateful ones."
She followed this with a sweeping declaration of solidarity, stating she "loves" everyone from "immigrants, criminals, trans people, abortions, queers, slutty women, contraception, welfare and socialism." However, she reserved stark condemnation for ICE, bluntly writing: "I f**king hate ICE."
Personal Motive Behind Criminal Record Defence
Larsson provided a personal context for her defence of individuals with criminal records. She explained that her boyfriend, Swedish dancer Lamin Holmén, has been unable to visit her in the United States for nearly six years due to a past conviction.
"The reason why my sweet, loving, kind, caring, compassionate, smart, generous, talented, thoughtful man can't come to the US - AT ALL - to visit me ever since we got together almost six years ago is because he has a criminal record. Guess for what! Weed!" she wrote.
She expressed frustration that they spend months apart "because of a little spliff over six years ago."
Questioning the Psychology of ICE Agents
Reflecting on the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross, Larsson pondered what drives the agency's personnel. The shooting has been viewed by many conservatives as an act of self-defence.
"Is it toxic masculinity? A frail ego, a fear of people and low IQ all mixed up, like a disgusting cocktail? Red pill podcasts? Sprinkled with some absence of love from their parents in childhood?" she questioned.
She further claimed that ICE agents have been "groomed by white supremacy and toxic masculinity," proposing that the solution is to "teach little boys compassion and empathy, so they can grow up and view every person like a person."
Larsson concluded her rant by suggesting society's divisions benefit the powerful, writing: "the billionaire leaders are f**king drooling at the sight of society being this divided." She ended with, "We can change people. I believe that. I have to believe that. F**k ICE."
Political Fallout and Divided Reactions
Larsson joined a chorus of left-leaning voices condemning the shooting, aligning with prominent Democrats, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, and NBA coach Steve Kerr. A group of 156 mostly left-wing lawmakers have demanded accountability from ICE in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons.
The lawmakers demanded "an immediate suspension of the current surge of federal officers and agents to Minneapolis and an investigation into this reprehensible event by an independent agency."
In stark contrast, conservatives have largely defended the officer's actions. Vice President JD Vance stated that newly-released footage proves Officer Jonathan Ross "fired in self-defense." Vance criticised the media's portrayal, calling it "an all-time moment in shameless press propaganda."
Officer Ross has been labelled a "murderer" by some Democrats but has received the full support of the Trump administration, which argues he acted appropriately when it appeared Good intended to run him down with her car. Despite nationwide protests, the administration has stated it stands firmly behind its ICE officers.
