Ricky Gervais has reignited his long-standing feud with politically outspoken celebrities, taking direct aim at Grammy winners who used their acceptance speeches to criticise US immigration enforcement policies. The English comedian, aged 64, resurfaced a quote from his blistering 2020 Golden Globes monologue on Sunday, as stars filled the stage and red carpet at the 2026 Grammy Awards with pointed political messages.
Gervais Reissues Warning to Award Winners
Posting the quote on social media platform X, Gervais shared his old warning: 'If you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything.' In his caption, he added pointedly: 'They're still not listening.' This intervention came after dozens of artists wore 'ICE OUT' pins and addressed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement directly from the stage at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena.
Artists Amplify Immigration Message
Legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, 82, made one of the most prominent gestures of the evening. Though she initially skipped wearing the pin on the red carpet, Mitchell added it to her sequined ensemble before accepting the Grammy for Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives - Volume 4: The Asylum Years.
Several other major stars echoed this sentiment both on the carpet and during televised speeches, including Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Kehlani, Jason Isbell, Justin Vernon, Rhiannon Giddens and Margo Price. Kehlani, 30, proved among the most vocal participants, wearing an 'ICE OUT' pin on her plunging black sequined halter dress before taking the stage after winning her first-ever Grammys for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.
Powerful Moments and Emotional Speeches
The most powerful message of the night arguably came from Bad Bunny, who made history by winning Best Album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, marking the first Spanish-language album ever to take the category. Overcome with emotion, the Puerto Rican superstar sat silently with his head in his hands before delivering a speech largely in Spanish. He dedicated the award 'to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams,' drawing a standing ovation that underscored the night's broader immigration-focused theme.
Meanwhile, Billie Eilish ensured her speech wouldn't go unnoticed or uncensored. After winning Song of the Year for Wildflower, Eilish took direct aim at ICE and the Trump administration's immigration policies while accepting the award alongside her brother and collaborator Finneas O'Connell. 'No one is illegal on stolen land,' Eilish declared, before urging the audience to continue speaking out and protesting. The network censored the audio moments later as she exclaimed 'f**k ICE' before walking off the stage.
Context and Catalyst for Protest
The political atmosphere throughout the ceremony was reportedly fueled by widespread outrage following several high-profile deaths involving ICE agents, including Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti. This context gave added weight to the artists' statements and visual protests, transforming the awards show into a platform for political expression despite Gervais's repeated criticisms of such uses of celebrity influence.
