Finneas slams ‘powerful old white men’ upset by sister Billie Eilish’s anti-ICE speech at the 2026 Grammys
Finneas O’Connell is publicly defending his sister and collaborator Billie Eilish after backlash over her remarks about ICE during their Grammy acceptance speech.
The siblings won Song of the Year at the 2026 ceremony. While accepting the award, Eilish used the moment to criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement and speak in support of immigrants, saying, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” before ending her remarks with, “F— ICE.” Both artists wore “ICE Out” pins on stage.
In the days that followed, Eilish’s comments sparked debate online and in opinion columns. Some critics argued celebrities should avoid political statements during awards shows.
Finneas responded in a post on Threads, writing that he had seen “very powerful old white men” criticizing his 24-year-old sister. He added a pointed remark suggesting those critics should focus on other matters, referencing the Epstein files.
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Other artists also spoke out during the awards. Kehlani ended her pre-telecast speech with a similar message, and Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech to defend immigrants.
An opinion piece in USA Today argued that entertainers should “stick to performing” rather than engage in political commentary. Businessman and TV personality Kevin O’Leary echoed a similar view during a Fox News appearance, warning that political statements could alienate fans.
Finneas pushed back on that argument, saying critics can’t claim celebrity opinions don’t matter while continuing to debate them publicly. He wrote that he plans to keep speaking out, especially if it continues to draw criticism.
Neither Eilish nor Finneas has indicated they intend to step back from making political statements during public appearances.
