2026 Grammy Awards – On a night that cemented his place in music history, Bad Bunny used the Grammy Awards stage to deliver a blunt political message aimed at U.S. immigration enforcement.
Accepting the award for Best Música Urbana Album at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, just days before he is set to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show, the global superstar opened his speech with an unexpected declaration.
“Before I thank God,” he told the audience, “I’m going to say this first: ICE out.”
The statement drew loud cheers inside the arena and was clearly audible during the live broadcast. Bad Bunny continued by rejecting dehumanizing rhetoric often used in immigration debates.
“We are not savages. We are not animals. We are not aliens,” he said. “We are human beings, and we are Americans.”
After pausing as the crowd applauded, the artist reflected on the emotional climate of the moment. Switching between Spanish and English, he warned against allowing anger to fuel more division.
“It’s hard not to hate right now,” he said. “But hate only grows when we add more hate. The only thing stronger than hate is love. If we fight, we have to fight with love.”
The phrase “ICE out” has become a rallying cry at demonstrations opposing stepped-up immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration, protests that have intensified nationwide in recent weeks.
Bad Bunny went on to collect three awards during the ceremony, including Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos), a historic first for a Spanish-language album at the Recording Academy’s top category. During his emotional acceptance speech, delivered largely in Spanish, he dedicated the honor to “everyone who had to leave their homeland to chase their dreams.”
His remarks echoed a broader wave of artist activism surrounding the ceremony. Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance at a Minneapolis benefit concert over the weekend supporting families of two people killed by federal officers. He also released a new song, Streets of Minneapolis, honoring the city and the victims.
At the Grammys themselves, Billie Eilish used her moment on stage to condemn immigration crackdowns while accepting Song of the Year for Wildflower. Although parts of her speech were censored on the broadcast, footage later circulated online captured her saying, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” before ending with a profanity directed at ICE.
Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean also addressed immigration during her speech, describing herself as the granddaughter of an immigrant and emphasizing that “we’re nothing without each other.”
Grammys host Trevor Noah approached the tense political climate with humor, joking during his opening monologue that Nicki Minaj, a vocal Trump supporter, was absent because she was “at the White House handling very important business.” President Trump later dismissed the ceremony on Truth Social, calling it “virtually unwatchable.”
Earlier in the broadcast, Noah joked with Bad Bunny about relocating to Puerto Rico if conditions in the U.S. continued to deteriorate. The artist replied dryly, “Puerto Rico is part of America.”
Halftime Spotlight, Political Backlash
Bad Bunny’s Grammy-night remarks are expected to intensify scrutiny ahead of his Super Bowl LX halftime performance. Since his selection was announced, conservative commentators have criticized both his outspoken politics and his decision to exclude the continental United States from his 2025–2026 tour — a move he previously said was driven by concerns over potential ICE raids at concert venues.
Some critics have also taken aim at the fact that his entire catalog is performed in Spanish. Conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA has announced plans for alternative programming during the halftime show, framing it as more in line with their values, though performers have not yet been revealed.
For Bad Bunny, however, the Grammys stage served as more than a celebration of musical achievement; it became a platform to amplify a message he appears determined to carry into one of the most-watched performances in the world.
By The Midtown Times Staff | February 1, 2026
