AWARDS SEASON PUTS HEAT ON ICE

Anti-ICE sentiment was a dominating factor at the 68th Grammy awards. Rosie Riot finds out why corroborating opinion amongst celebrities and creatives is splintering the establishment

Award seasons have always been a platform for political statements. From Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental pleas, to Lady Gaga's trans rights solidarity, the awards podium has always been an opportunity for artists to render political change.

But one recent sentiment has been sweeping award season like a polemic tsunami - anti-ICE opinion.

With Mark Ruffalo’s Golden Globes red carpet dismay at the current government’s corruption, and Renée Good killing controversy - to Grammy golden boy Bad Bunny’s powerful ‘ICE out’ statement; there is a feeling that this time, we are standing on a precipice of change, charged by popular opinion. Whereas in the past celebrity political statement might have been met with eye rolls and sighs as potentially hypocritical rhetoric rippled across audiences (environmental pleas from private jet setting sanctimonies for example), there is now more of a common agreement that enough’s enough.

British artist, and Grammy 2026 best new artist winner, Olivia Dean, hinted at the current situation with her acceptance speech:

“I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant - I’m a product of bravery and I think those people need to be celebrated.”

This sentiment was clearer with Puerto Rican multi-winner Bad Bunny’s profound message:

“ICE out. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” he said, adding: “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. Please, we need to be different. If we fight we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them … that’s the way to do it, with love. Don’t forget that, please.”

Bad Bunny collects his award for Album of the year at the 2026 Grammy awards

For a person who had to rule out doing US concerts last year for fear that his fans would be seized by ICE agents, extending love to those agents is a striking example of Benito Ocasio going high when they go low. And now on the brink of Superbowl stratosphere, he is cementing his message.

Meanwhile Grammy host Trevor Noah, a staunch advocate for racial equality, acknowledged at least one major music superstar who was not present at the awards, adding fuel to the topic.

"Nicki Minaj is not here," Noah said, "She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues."

Which caused a murmur of boos amongst the audience.

In a move that has baffled her fans and most of the music industry, Minaj has recently come out in public support of President Donald Trump. She even called herself Trump's "number one fan" at a Treasury Department summit in Washington D.C. on January 28. That same day, she publicly shared on her X profile her Trump Gold Card. Earlier in December 2025, Minaj was publicly interviewed by Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest.

Although divisive as ever, there is a feeling that the scales are about to tip. Other artists that have compounded the message include Billie Eilish, Khelani, Shaboozey, and SZA.

Grammy winner Khelani wearing her 'ICE OUT' badge

And although past Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais's cynicism of celebrities not using their acceptance speech as an opportunity to cast political opinion, was once met with some acknowledgement, perhaps this time he should sit this one out. The ones that have conquered an industry, despite the hurdles, the predujice, and the language barriers, are indeed brave, and need to be celebrated, not just for their creative contribution, but for their important legacy.