Music’s biggest night became a platform for political resistance as Grammy attendees flooded the red carpet wearing stark black-and-white pins emblazoned with two words: “ICE OUT.”
Billie Eilish, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Finneas, Kehlani, and songwriter Amy Allen were among those who turned fashion into activism at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.
The coordinated display represented more than celebrity virtue signaling—it was a direct response to recent federal immigration enforcement tragedies that sparked national outrage.
And the message didn’t stop at accessories; several winners used their acceptance speeches to amplify the cause.
Red Carpet Becomes Protest Ground
Kehlani didn’t mince words when explaining her decision to wear the pin, echoing sentiments she shared during her acceptance speech at the premiere ceremony.
I really wanted to say fuck ICE. 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. It’s brainless to me.
The display came in direct response to high-profile killings by federal law enforcement—Renée Good and Alex Pretti both lost their lives in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration agents. These tragic events ignited nationwide conversations about Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics.
Songwriter Amy Allen emphasized the strategic timing of the protest, recognizing the Grammy platform’s massive reach.
Tonight is obviously a big visibility night, and anybody that has an opportunity to spread the word and get the message out that obviously change needs to happen in this country in so many ways. [I] just felt like I needed to wear it today, and I hope I see a lot of other ones out there today too.
From Golden Globes to Grammys: A Growing Movement
The pins emerged from a collaboration between powerhouse organizations: the American Civil Liberties Union, Maremoto, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Working Families Power.
According to Working Families Power director of strategy Nelini Stamp, the campaign materialized rapidly—approximately 36 hours before the Golden Globes on January 11. Good had been shot by an ICE officer just days earlier, prompting activists to mobilize their Hollywood connections.
Actor Mark Ruffalo became an early adopter, alongside Ariana Grande, Jean Smart, Natasha Lyonne, and Wanda Sykes at the Globes ceremony.
Our purpose was like, if the people in power are not going to do anything about this, we need to make sure that [during] every single cultural event that people see this message of ‘ICE OUT’ and ‘BE GOOD.’
The movement gained momentum after Pretti’s death on January 24, with appearances at Sundance Film Festival and the Resonator Awards. Olivia Wilde, Natalie Portman, and Zoey Deutch wore pins during Park City press appearances, while Olivia Rodrigo and Dave Grohl donned them at the January 27 Grammys Week ceremony.
Acceptance Speeches Amplify the Message
Billie Eilish leveraged her song of the year win to address the political moment head-on, though CBS censored part of her remarks.
As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything, but that no one is illegal on stolen land … It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I feel really hopeful in this room.
She concluded by stating “Fuck ICE,” with the latter portion bleeped from the broadcast.
Bad Bunny, who didn’t wear the pin on the red carpet, made the message central to his acceptance speech for best música urbana album.
Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out. We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.
The Puerto Rican superstar has faced heated criticism from Trump administration officials, particularly after revealing he avoided scheduling U.S. tour stops partly due to fears about ICE presence.
Music as Historical Resistance Tool
Stamp highlighted why targeting the Grammys made strategic sense for organizers.
Music has been used for a very long time in our country as a form of resistance, opposition, protest, to express the horrors that people have gone through.
Musicians have increasingly pushed back against Trump’s second-term immigration policies. Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Semisonic have condemned unauthorized use of their songs in administration social media posts.
Bruce Springsteen debuted an ICE protest song dedicated to Minneapolis residents, while Lady Gaga paused a Tokyo concert to condemn enforcement agency actions.
Grassroots Organization Meets Celebrity Platform
Organizers established a distribution center outside West Hollywood’s historic Troubadour club in the week preceding the Grammys. On ceremony day, they operated additional distribution points at downtown Los Angeles hotels.
The campaign follows traditions established by previous red carpet movements, including Time’s Up initiatives and voter turnout accessories.
Critics might dismiss pin-wearing as performative activism, but Stamp argues the accessories serve a specific purpose: popularizing demands to remove ICE from American communities.
She expressed hope that Sunday’s high-profile display would inspire action beyond social media posts.
I just hope that people see that and say, I could do something if these folks can do something on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Whether through calling congressional representatives or donating to support systems, organizers envision the pins as conversation starters rather than endpoints.
The Grammy platform delivered exactly what activists hoped for—visibility translating into potential grassroots mobilization, with music industry voices leading cultural resistance during politically turbulent times.