Think about the last award show you watched, maybe it was the Grammys. You remember the music, the fashion, and the viral moments that took over social media the next day. But this year, one thing stood out more than designer gowns or acceptance speech jokes: celebrities using their platforms to speak out against ICE.
At the 2026 Grammy Awards, several artists made their stance clear. Bad Bunny, while accepting his award, opened his speech with the phrase “ICE out,” and reminded viewers that immigrants are human beings deserving of dignity and respect.
Later in the night, Billie Eilish, accepting “Song of the Year”, directly condemned ICE in a speech that quickly spread across social media.
These moments transformed what could have been routine acceptance speeches into powerful political statements, and their words weren’t the only form of protest. On the red carpet and throughout the ceremony, celebrities including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kehlani, Joni Mitchell, and Amy Allen wore “ICE Out” pins, making their opinion visible even when they weren’t speaking.
Award shows are watched by millions of people across different age groups, cultures, and political backgrounds. When celebrities speak out on these stages, they not only introduce conversations on this topic, but they put it on center stage. By doing this, they’re spotlighting conversations that might otherwise be ignored or avoided.
“Let’s say someone has 100,00 followers, they could influence maybe 10,000 of those people to speak up and get the word out.” Stated by COMPASS senior Liam Sims.
Celebrities often aren’t lawmakers or policy experts, but they don’t need to be in order to make an impact. A short statement during an acceptance speech can spark headlines, social media discussion, and curiosity among viewers, especially younger audiences who are still forming their political identities.
“I am absolutely in favor of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. I just think it’s so important that celebrities use their voice to speak out,” says Mrs. Palsgrove, COMPASS Fashion Teacher.
When celebrities use that visibility to advocate for immigrant rights, they remind audiences that art doesn’t exist separately from reality. If these moments encourage even a few people to think more critically about immigration policies, then they are doing exactly what they should.
Taj Dahdul • Mar 2, 2026 at 1:36 pm
The editorial team at The Corydon deserves praise for their timely coverage of the 2026 Grammys, specifically highlighting how stars like Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish used their acceptance speeches to advocate for immigrant dignity. By featuring a recreation of the “ICE Out” pins, the editor effectively enhanced the story’s visual impact, ensuring readers understand the “powerful political statements” made on the red carpet. This proactive reporting successfully bridges the gap between entertainment and reality for the Millikan High community.
To further improve, a suggestion would be to provide a brief sidebar explaining ICE’s role to better inform younger audiences who are still “forming their political identities”. Addressing this would mitigate the concern that readers might miss the specific policy implications behind the “ICE Out” movement.
The editor’s choice to spotlight this “protest” is a very bold reaction that challenges the student body to think beyond the “designer gowns” of award shows. By including quotes from both a student and a fashion teacher, the editor successfully validates the idea that “art doesn’t exist separately from reality”. This leaves us with a critical question: can these viral moments truly shift local perspectives at Millikan, or do they simply “spark headlines” without creating lasting change?