What was meant to be a moment of triumph for Billie Eilish at the Grammys 2026 quickly turned into a heated online debate. The singer’s acceptance speech, delivered while receiving the Song of the Year
award, has sparked widespread backlash, with one line in particular drawing intense reactions across social media.
Billie joined a growing list of artists, including Bad Bunny and Kehlani, who used the Grammy stage to speak out against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, her comment referring to the United States as “stolen land” struck a nerve with many viewers and shifted the focus from her win to the controversy surrounding her words.
During her speech, Billie said, “I don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land. Yeah, it’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter, and fuck ICE. Thank you so much; I can’t believe this.”
While several celebrities echoed similar sentiments against ICE during the ceremony, Billie’s phrasing triggered a stronger reaction online. Critics accused the singer of being disconnected from reality, pointing out her wealth and lifestyle as contradictory to the message she delivered on stage.
The term “stolen land,” used frequently in political and activist circles, refers to the history of colonisation in the United States and the forced displacement of Indigenous communities. Before European settlers arrived, Native American tribes inhabited and governed the land for centuries. Over time, treaties were broken, and land was taken through violence and forced removals—an injustice activists argue continues to shape modern America.
Despite this context, many social media users labelled Billie’s remarks as performative. Some highlighted her reported multimillion-dollar Malibu beachfront home, questioning her stance while living on land she described as stolen.
The backlash escalated when an Australian man launched a GoFundMe campaign, claiming it was meant to help him relocate to Billie’s home. His tweet read, “Exciting news: I’ve decided to move into Billie Eilish’s $6 million Malibu beachfront mansion because no human being is illegal on stolen land. Thank you Billie for your generosity.”
Social media criticism continued to pour in. One user wrote, “Billie Eilish said “F-ck Ice” last night but lives in a $14M mansion behind a wall. Celebrities are so out of touch.” Another comment stated, “Funny how Billie Eilish calls it ‘stolen land’ while building a career, a mansion, and a brand on that same land. The slogan sounds deep until you notice she’s not packing up and leaving it.”
A third remark read, “A room full of rich elites, who live in wealthy neighborhoods with armed security, lecturing the rest of us about allowing illegals and criminals to take over our communities and take our jobs will definitely go over well in Pennsylvania and Michigan.”
