Lady Gaga paused her concert at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Thursday night to deliver a speech condemning the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The singer, who is currently on the Asian leg of her Mayhem Ball tour, addressed the audience about the plight of families and children being 'mercilessly targeted' by ICE in America.
Gaga referenced the recent shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and expressed her heartache for those affected. 'When entire communities lose their sense of safety and belonging, it breaks something in all of us,' she said, urging leaders to 'change your course of action swiftly and have mercy on everyone in our country.'
The singer joins a growing list of celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo, Olivia Wilde, and Wanda Sykes, who have spoken out against ICE at recent events such as the Golden Globes and Sundance Film Festival. Gaga dedicated her song 'Come to Mama' to those suffering, saying, 'We need to get back to a place of safety and peace and accountability.'
Throughout her career, Gaga has been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. During her current tour, she has worn a sash in the colours of the trans flag and waved the flag on stage. Her performance of 'Paparazzi' features a long cape that transforms into a rainbow-coloured Pride flag.
Gaga wraps up her five-night residency at the Tokyo Dome on Friday. She is scheduled to perform at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, where she has received seven nominations, including album of the year for 'Mayhem' and song and record of the year for 'Abracadabra.' This ties her with producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut for the second-most nominations this year.
