Billie Eilish’s 'stolen land' Grammy speech backfires as Tongva Tribe says her mansion sits on ancestral land; fans call out her 'performative activism'

Billie Eilish’s big night at the 2026 Grammy Awards was a celebration of her music. Fresh off her Song of the Year win for Wildflower, she once again reminded everyone why she holds such a powerful grip on both fans and the industry. But the celebration didn’t last long.

It didn’t take long for the spotlight to move off the trophy and onto Billie, thanks to her bold onstage statement calling out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Online discourse took over almost instantly, dragging the singer-songwriter into familiar but messy debates about celebrity privilege.

Billie was already under scrutiny for performative activism, and her Grammys speech only amplified the criticism. Now, a statement from the Tongva Tribe has complicated the discourse, prompting renewed scrutiny of her remarks.


During her acceptance speech on February 1, Billie used the global stage to speak out against U.S. immigration policies. Wearing an “ICE Out” pin, she made her stance clear from the get-go.

“No one is illegal on stolen land,” she told the audience and continued by urging people to stay vocal and engaged, saying, “It’s really hard to know what to say right now, but we have to keep fighting and speaking up. Our voices matter, and people matter.”



Billie, who was joined by her brother and singer-songwriter Finneas on the stage, closed her speech with a bold statement that was partially censored during the broadcast but unmistakable in intent. “F— ICE. That’s all I’m going to say.”

The moment was hailed by fans as bold and necessary online, especially given the current political climate. Many, however, quickly began questioning how closely her words aligned with her own lifestyle, and it seems like they had receipts.


Shortly after the ceremony, the Tongva Tribe, indigenous to the Los Angeles Basin, responded to Billie’s remarks about “stolen land.” The tribe stated that the mansion Billie lives in sits on land historically taken from the Tongva people.

In a statement to Fox News, a representative acknowledged the importance of raising awareness about Indigenous history but stressed that statements about stolen land should come with direct recognition of the tribes affected. “Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property; we do value the instance when public figures provide visibility to the true history of this country.” The spokesperson also added, “It is our hope that in future discussions the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles Basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory.”


The internet wasted no time jumping in. Social media quickly turned on Billie, with many online accusing her of performative activism and arguing that calling the U.S. “stolen land” hits differently when you live in a multimillion-dollar mansion.

Reacting to a post that reshared the Tongva tribe's statement, one user wrote on X, "Billie needs to give the mansion back to the tribe. She stole it from them. It's the right thing to do."