A slew of celebrities arrived at the 68th annual Grammy Awards wearing “ICE OUT” and “BE GOOD” pins. The intention behind the gesture — to bring more attention to the anti-ICE movement through a peaceful display — was certainly positive. However, I can’t help but feel that all the campaign amounted to was a shallow symbolic gesture.
While the pins themselves raise awareness of the abusive forces attacking our immigrant communities, celebrities parade them around in the very system that built these inequities in the first place. During award shows like the Grammys, there is so much room for celebrities to comment on their role in this system and reflect on their political responsibility. Yet, the biggest risk these “advocates” take is a small badge of wokeness.
There is no resistance during an event that has historically served as an elitist showcase of wealth and power in the music industry. Artists are awarded by an academy of moguls and masters in their field, and their accomplishments are televised to the masses, accentuating this gap between them and everyone else.
The “ICE OUT” pins were part of an American Civil Liberties Union-backed campaign to honor the life of Renee Good and protest the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids around the country. Yet, all I saw as each celebrity made their way down the red carpet was how little their act mattered beyond keeping fans on their good side.
For Justin and Hailey Bieber, Jack Antonoff, and Lady Gaga, the pins were nothing but an accessory to their designer outfits.
When the Palisades fires occurred last year, the Recording Academy jumped at the opportunity to fundraise and dedicate its entire show to the disaster. But when it came to ICE raiding communities and tearing families apart, all we got were pins to remind us that these rich people vaguely know of our complaints — not even that they care.
The most jarring example of the pin’s emptiness came from a viral red carpet interview with Antonoff. When asked to elaborate on the pin and why he was wearing it, he vaguely says, “It’s terrible,” failing to even say the word “ICE” in his stammered 35-second response.
While these sentiments are true, Antonoff’s dodgy and emotionless answer just goes to show how performative all of this is. The answer to what artists can do to be advocates in such a crucial time cannot just be limited to a low-risk fashion statement.
Celebrities have the power to promote donations, uplift petitions, and even call out the names of people illegally detained by ICE, but none of this effort is being put into these movements.
The Grammys offer such a unique opportunity for activism. In the midst of the shallow sea of pins, there were a handful of celebrities who utilized their spotlight for political resistance.
Olivia Dean’s best new artist speech — “standing [on stage] as a daughter of an immigrant” — was empowering and resonant. Kehlani and Billie Eilish both made efforts to call on their fellow artists to speak on the issue and echoed the messages “[F—] ICE” and “No one is illegal on stolen land.” Most notably, Bad Bunny dedicated his award for album of the year to his love for Puerto Rico and the immigrant families who have sacrificed so much in their lifetimes.
Taking the time to give a speech that uplifts the cause and so explicitly calls out the injustices in the country derails the programming of the show. It puts the issues at center stage, forcing everyone to listen.
The Grammys are considered one of the most televised events of the year, with 14.4 million viewers tuning in this year. The gesture of the pins was nice, but simply wearing one is not enough.
We should call it what it is: a cop out from genuine activism.
