Artists demonstrate against the Trump administration’s immigration agency at the main international music awards
The Grammy ceremony, held this Sunday (01/02) in Los Angeles, turned into a stage for demonstrations against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Several artists used their speeches and visible symbols to criticize the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
Bad Bunny, who made history as the first Spanish-language artist to win the album of the year category, was one of the most striking.
“Before thanking God, I’ll say: out with ICE. We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” he said.
The artist, who dedicated his award to “all the people who had to leave their homeland”, defended love as an answer: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love”.
Billie Eilish, accepting the song of the year award for “Wildflower,” echoed a motto of the protests: “No one is illegal on stolen land.” The singer expressed hope, but asked for continuity in the fight: “We need to continue fighting, demonstrating and protesting.”
Other artists joined the chorus of criticism:
- Olivia Dean, new artist of the year, declared: “I’m here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m the fruit of courage”
- Kehlani, winner in the R&B categories, was direct: “I wanted to tell ICE to fuck off”
- Gloria Estefan, awarded in the tropical Latin category, highlighted: “These are people who have families who have contributed to this country for decades”
Political context
The protests come amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, which has deployed nearly 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis this year alone. ICE’s actions have been criticized for their aggressive approach, linked to at least two recent deaths in the city.
Confrontation with Trump
Host Trevor Noah sparked controversy by associating Trump with the late Jeffrey Epstein in a joke during the ceremony.
“This is a Grammy that every artist wants, almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” he joked, referring to the president’s threats to take over the territory of Denmark.
“Which makes sense, because since Epstein is gone, he needs a new island to spend time with Bill Clinton,” he added.
The president responded on his social network Truth Social, denying any connection to Epstein Island and classifying the Grammys as “practically unwatchable.”
Other highlights of the night
- Kendrick Lamar became the most awarded rapper in Grammy history, with 27 statuettes
- Lady Gaga spoke about the challenges facing women in the music industry
Several artists wore pins with the phrase “Fora ICE” as a form of protest | Jordan Strauss/ Invision/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance
The demonstrations at the Grammys represent a continuation of the protests that began at the Golden Globes, suggesting that political issues should remain at the center of the cultural debate at the main entertainment awards shows.
With information from The Guardian and DW on 02/02/2026
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2026/02/02/grammy-e-palco-de-protestos-contra-politica-migratoria-dos-eua/
