The stars stepped out Sunday night for the 68th Grammy Award ceremony in Los Angeles. Several artists used their platforms to criticize operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Award winners such as Bad Bunny, Kehlani and SZA called out ICE, while others shared their experience being a child of immigrants, with some sporting “ICE OUT” pins on the red carpet.
Bad Bunny, Kehlani and SZA used their platforms as Grammy winners to call out ICE
Several award winners criticized ICE while accepting their honors. Kehlani, who took home Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for her song “Folded,” called out the agency.
“Together, we’re stronger in numbers, [and must] to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now,” she said on stage, according to Page Six.
“I hope everybody’s inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on,” Kehlani added. “F–k ICE.”
The artist also wore an “ICE OUT” pin on her gown, alongside other celebrities including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Joni Mitchell, Finneas, Billie Eilish, Samara Joy and Lachi. Kehlani previously shared her anti-ICE statement on the red carpet.
“I really wanted to say f**k ICE,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. “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.”
Bad Bunny also condemned ICE as he took the stage to accept the award for Best Música Urbana Album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out,'” he said during his speech, according to NBC News. “We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
SZA, who won Record of the Year for “Luther,” noted how “bizarre” it felt to her to celebrate while ICE operations are conducted across the country.
“It’s incredibly dystopian that we’re dressed up and able to celebrate accolades when people are getting snatched up and shot in the face on the street,” she told Variety. “It just feels bizarre, and I find so many of us don’t really know how to feel right now, besides rage and hopelessness — and I don’t feel like that’s the emotional card I want to subscribe to.”
SZA added, “It’s always ‘F**k ICE,’ but I just don’t want everyone to fall into despair. Because when you lose morale, change becomes impossible. And that’s just not true. I will not be going quietly into the dying of the light. I encourage everyone to do the same.”
Grammy winners Olivia Dean and Shaboozey spoke about their experience as the children of immigrants
Olivia Dean won the Grammy for Best New Artist and dedicated her speech to immigrants while drawing from personal experience.
“I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant,” she said, according to Deadline. “I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
“We’re nothing without each other,” Dean added.
Shaboozey, who won the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award for his song “Amen” with Jelly Roll, also used his platform to share his experience. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his Nigerian mother, who raised him in Virginia.
“She worked three to four jobs just to provide for me and my four siblings as an immigrant in this country. Thank you, mom,” Shaboozey said, according to USA Today.
He dedicated his award to “all children of immigrants” and started to cry while speaking.
“Immigrants build 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 promises freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it,” adding, “Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here.” He concluded, “You give America color.”