The 2026 Grammys saw historic wins, viral moments, jaw-dropping gowns, and a series of anti-ICE movements.
Bad Bunny received a total of three awards this year for his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos)”–the only Spanish-language album that has ever won the Recording Album’s top prize. He started his acceptance speech with, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out!”
This comment was responded to with overwhelming cheers and applause from the audience. He continued, “We are not savage, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans”.
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” he said. “So, please, we need to be different. If we fight we have to do it with love”.
Bad Bunny dedicated his speech to “all those who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams”. His comments sparked a wave of powerful acceptance speeches that spoke of bravery, love, and immigrant rights.
In her acceptance speech for Song of the Year, Billie Eilish said, “No one is illegal on stolen land”. She continued by encouraging people to “keep fighting and speaking up and protesting”.
Olivia Dean–going home with the Grammy for Best New Artist–acknowledged that she is “the granddaughter of an immigrant”. She says, “I am the product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We are nothing without each other."
Powerful words from powerful artists. However, these comments were not much appreciated by President Donald Trump, who called the Grammy award ceremony "virtually unwatchable”.
Bad Bunny carried his mission to the Super Bowl Halftime show.
The initial controversy of the choice was evident in the media. These opinions were based on the fact that Bad Bunny excluded the continental US from his tour, expressing his fear that ICE would raid the concert venue. Turning Point America even offered an alternative venue featuring Kid Rock, country music, and images of the late founder Charlie Kirk.
Nevertheless, Bad Bunny performed at the Halftime Show and impressed viewers with energetic choreography, a thrilling set, and surprise guests.
During the performance, he proclaimed to the audience, “God bless America, whether it’s Chile, Argentina,” and proceeded to list 20 nations in North and South America. Standing beside the US and Puerto Rican flags, he shared a message written on a football. “We are all America”.
Trump responded by saying the performance was “a slap in the face” and “nobody understands a word” the rapper said. He complained the show was “an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence”.
Despite this, Bad Bunny’s messages were felt everywhere–on the streets of Puerto Rico, where thousands of fans gathered to watch his performance, and on social media, where people are now inspired to join protests and speak out against ICE raids. If the world is a stage, how can we use it to say what needs to be heard?
Summary
Bad Bunny makes a bold statement against ICE after receiving Album of the Year at the Grammys
Other artists, such as Olivia Dean and Billie Ellish, also make statements against ICE
Bad Bunny continues movement at Superbowl Halftime Show next to the Puerto Rican flag
Trump calls his performance “one of the worst, EVER”
Works Cited
“Bad Bunny’s Grammys speech addresses ICE action.” CNN, 1 February 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/01/entertainment/bad-bunny-grammys-speech-ice. Accessed 9 February 2026.
Park, Hanna, and Kit Maher. “Trump calls Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show performance ‘one of the worst, EVER.’” CNN, 9th February 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/politics/trump-bad-bunny-halftime-super-bowl-hnk.
Thompson, Stephen. “Grammys 2026: 10 takeaways from a historic, chaotic night.” NPR, 2 February 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/nx-s1-5693062/2026-grammys-10-takeaways. Accessed 9 February 2026.