what did billie eilish say about stolen land

Billie Eilish used the phrase “no one is illegal on stolen land” during her 2026 Grammy Awards acceptance speech, tying it to criticism of U.S. immigration enforcement and support for immigrants’ rights and Indigenous land justice.

What Exactly She Said

In her Song of the Year acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammys, Billie Eilish said:

• “No one is illegal on stolen land.”

• She also condemned ICE and urged people to “keep fighting and speaking up and protesting,” framing it as a moment to stand with migrants and vulnerable communities.

The core of her message was that people should not be labeled “illegal” on land that was taken from Indigenous peoples, and that audiences should stay politically engaged.

What “Stolen Land” Meant In Context

The phrase comes from activist and Indigenous sovereignty movements and migrant justice groups. It has two main ideas:

• No human being is inherently “illegal”; laws can be unjust, but people’s existence is not a crime.
• The United States was built on land taken from Indigenous nations through conquest, broken treaties, and forced removal, so harsh border and immigration enforcement is morally contradictory.

By using this slogan on such a big stage, she linked immigration issues (like ICE raids and deportations) with the deeper history of colonization and Indigenous land rights.

Reaction From Indigenous Community

After the speech, the Tongva (Gabrieleno Tongva) tribe, whose ancestral territory includes much of the Los Angeles basin and the area where Eilish lives, publicly responded:

• They emphasized that the greater Los Angeles basin is Gabrieleno Tongva territory and appreciated when public figures highlight the true history of the land.

• They also noted that she had not directly contacted them and said they hope future discussions name specific tribes so the public recognizes whose land is being referenced.

So, they broadly welcomed the attention to history, but wanted more precise acknowledgment and engagement.

Backlash And Accusations Of Hypocrisy

Her comment quickly turned into a political flashpoint.

Critics pointed out that:

• She reportedly lives in a multimillion‑dollar home in Los Angeles, on land the Tongva consider their ancestral territory.

• Some conservative politicians and commentators argued that if she truly believes the land is “stolen,” she should give her property back or donate it to Native communities.

• Others called the slogan oversimplified, saying it ignores treaties, land purchases, and complex modern legal realities.

Law firms and media personalities even used the controversy as fodder for publicity or satire, for example joking about “evicting” her on behalf of the Tongva.

Support And Defense

On the other side, many fans, activists, and commentators praised her for using a live TV moment to amplify a radical, justice‑oriented message.

• Supporters said the slogan is meant as a moral statement, not a literal legal blueprint, and that it pushes viewers to confront the history of colonization and immigrant criminalization.

• Her brother and collaborator Finneas defended her online and criticized powerful men who were attacking her over a political statement made by a 24‑year‑old artist.

For many, the fact that such a slogan reached the Grammys stage in early 2026 became a symbol of how mainstream some abolitionist, pro‑migrant, and decolonial ideas have become.

Bigger Picture: Why It Became A “Thing”

This blew up because it sits at the intersection of several hot‑button debates:

• Immigration and ICE enforcement under the current administration.
• Land acknowledgments, Indigenous sovereignty, and what “stolen land” means in practice.
• Celebrity activism: whether wealthy stars can credibly talk about structural injustice while owning expensive property.

An example people kept quoting and debating was the line “no one is illegal on stolen land… f— ICE,” which wrapped all of those issues into one viral moment.

Do you mainly want to know the exact wording of her quote, or are you more interested in the political debate and Indigenous responses around “stolen land”?