Ricky Gervais Urges Celebrities to Avoid Political Acceptance Speeches After Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny and Others Address ICE at the 2026 Grammys

Ricky Gervais has once again weighed in on celebrities using award show platforms for political statements, reacting to a wave of immigration-focused speeches at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Following the ceremony, the comedian shared a clip from his infamous 2020 Golden Globes monologue on X, reminding winners not to turn acceptance speeches into political lectures. Gervais accompanied the post with a crying emoji and the caption, 'They're still not listening,' appearing to mock the continued trend of activism at major entertainment events.

The Grammys this year were marked by repeated references to US immigration policy, particularly ICE. Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for Wildflower, wore an 'ICE Out' pin and declared 'fuck ICE' during her speech, urging artists to continue speaking out and protesting. Bad Bunny echoed similar sentiments after winning Album of the Year and Best Música Urbana Album, stating 'ICE out!' and calling for compassion over hatred. Several artists, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Jack Antonoff and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, also displayed 'ICE Out' pins during the ceremony.

Other winners highlighted immigrant experiences without directly naming ICE. Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean spoke about being the granddaughter of an immigrant, while Shaboozey dedicated his first Grammy to immigrants and their contributions to American culture. Gervais previously shared and later deleted the same Golden Globes clip after the 2025 Emmys, suggesting his frustration with politically charged award speeches remains unchanged, even as artists continue to use high-profile stages to make their voices heard.