Bad Bunny Criticizes ICE During Historic Grammy Wins

At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech to deliver a pointed political statement against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Accepting the award for Best Música Urbana Album, the Puerto Rican superstar began his speech, saying: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out!”. The crowd in Los Angeles erupted in cheers, which were clearly audible on the telecast.

“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens,” he continued. “We are humans, and we are Americans”. While pausing for applause, he added that, “I know it’s tough not to hate on these days, and I was thinking, sometimes we get contaminados – I don’t know how to say that in English – the hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love”.

Bad Bunny’s three Grammy wins included a historic album of the year award for Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos). This marked the first time when a Spanish-language album received the Recording Academy’s top honor. In his emotional acceptance speech, which was delivered mostly in Spanish, he dedicated the win to “all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country to follow their dreams”.

Other Artists also raised Voice for Anti-ICE Sentiments

Bad Bunny’s remarks coincided with nationwide anti-ICE protests over the weekend. Similarly, Billie Eilish expressed her criticism of ICE during her Grammy acceptance speech for Song of the Year for Wildflower. While television censors bleeped parts of her remarks, footage that was posted online revealed that she said, “F**k ICE”, and emphasized, “no one is illegal on stolen land”.

In the meantime, Eilish encouraged viewers to “keep fighting and speaking up and protesting”, while highlighting the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement. Earlier in the telecast, British singer Olivia Dean, who was the winner of Best New Artist, also acknowledged her Caribbean heritage and immigrant roots. “I’m a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated”, she said. “We’re nothing without each other”.

Political Reactions Surround Bad Bunny’s Grammy Moment

Grammys host Trevor Noah also took a lighter approach and made political jokes during his opening monologue. His jokes include a remark about rapper Nicki Minaj, who attended the White House instead of the ceremony. Meanwhile, Trump commented on the broadcast via Truth Social. He called the show “virtually unwatchable”.

Noah also briefly interacted with Bad Bunny and joked about whether he might live in Puerto Rico if conditions in the U.S. worsened. Bad Bunny replied, “Well, I have some news for you. Puerto Rico is part of America.” The remarks come amid ongoing controversy that surrounded Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance.

Some conservatives opposed his halftime appearance due to his decision to exclude the continental U.S. from his 2025-2026 tour while citing concerns about ICE raids. Others criticized the Spanish-only content of his music catalog. Conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA announced counter-programming for his halftime performance to align with their values, though the lineup has yet to be confirmed. Bad Bunny’s Grammy speech has ignited a broader debate about the intersection of entertainment, politics, and immigration policy. At the same time, it underscores the growing influence of high-profile artists in shaping public conversations.

Web Resources on the Bad Bunny criticized ICE at the Grammys

1. Reuters.com: Bad Bunny says ‘ICE out’ during Grammy awards acceptance speech
2. BBC.com: Bad Bunny says ‘ICE out’ in forceful Grammy speech
3. NYTimes.com: Stars Speak Up for Immigrants Throughout Grammys Night
4. CBSNews.com: Bad Bunny says “ICE out” during Grammy Awards acceptance speech