Billie Eilish Upset KPop Demon Hunters’ ‘Golden’ at Grammys, Then Used Speech to Rail About Politics

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Many were surprised that “Golden” by KPop Demon Hunters didn’t win Song of the Year at the Grammys. Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” took home the award, and she used her acceptance speech to address current debates about immigration laws.

Before the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, many music experts and reporters were predicting that “Golden,” a song from the animated movie KPop Demon Hunters, had a strong chance of winning Song of the Year. The song gained a lot of attention after being nominated, with many noting its wide popularity and the fact that it was a K-Pop song competing for a major Grammy award.

Although many expected Harry Styles’ “Golden” to win, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell took home the Song of the Year award at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for their song, “Wildflower.” The outcome was a surprise to some observers.

The song “Wildflower” is featured on Billie Eilish’s 2024 album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, shared the award onstage, and Eilish used the opportunity to speak out against U.S. immigration policies and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

She said, “No one is illegal on stolen land” and “F— ICE.”

Eilish Uses Acceptance Speech to Address Immigration Policy

Following her win for Song of the Year, Billie Eilish used her acceptance speech to address U.S. immigration policies. After thanking the Recording Academy and other nominees, she voiced her criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the government’s overall approach to immigration.

Billie Eilish calls America “stolen land”

Billie, your $14 million Los Angeles home is located on land traditionally inhabited by the Tongva people. Have you considered acknowledging this history or supporting the Tongva community?

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 2, 2026

Her acceptance speech, she said:

Overcome with emotion, Billie Eilish expressed her gratitude while accepting the award alongside her brother. She acknowledged the incredible talent of her fellow nominees and shared how honored she felt to be present. However, she quickly shifted to a more serious message, stating, ‘No one is illegal on stolen land.’ Feeling at a loss for words, Eilish emphasized the importance of continued activism, protest, and using our voices to make a difference for people. She ended her speech with a direct condemnation of ICE, apologizing for the strong statement but reiterating her thanks.

The audience applauded and cheered enthusiastically. News organizations reported that the speech was one of the most direct and politically charged moments of the event.

At the Grammys, Billie Eilish and other stars wore pins supporting immigration rights. Eilish wasn’t the only artist to speak about the issue; Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech to say, “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans.”

Other artists at the 2026 Grammys also addressed immigration and related issues in their speeches.

Public Reaction and Broader Context

After the broadcast, Billie Eilish’s comments quickly spread online. A lot of discussion centered on her mention of “stolen land,” with some pointing out that her own expensive home is built on land traditionally belonging to indigenous people.

There’s a growing demand for Billie Eilish to give back her $14 million Los Angeles home to the Tongva tribe. This comes after the singer stated, “no one is illegal on stolen land,” sparking controversy and calls for her to address the history of the land her property is built on.

Honestly, it always bothered me when people pointed to her wealth and then suggested she should be opening her home to undocumented immigrants. It felt like they were implying she had to do it because she was perceived as being morally superior – like it wasn’t a genuine act of kindness, but a requirement of her supposed principles. It just didn’t sit right with me.

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 2, 2026

As a lifelong movie fan, I always think about the history of the land where all these iconic films are made. It’s important to remember that Los Angeles isn’t just Hollywood glamour; it’s built on territory originally home to Indigenous communities like the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash peoples. It’s their ancestral land, and acknowledging that feels crucial when I’m enjoying films made here.

Billie Eilish’s recent statements have sparked debate as the country continues to be divided over immigration policies and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There have been numerous protests nationwide, with people criticizing current immigration policies and what they consider overly aggressive tactics by ICE. At the same time, there’s growing concern about the increasing number of violent attacks targeting ICE agents.

Golden Still Earns Recognition in Visual Media Category

Even though Golden didn’t win Song of the Year, it still had a big win at the Grammys earlier in the night. It was awarded Best Song Written for Visual Media during the pre-show ceremony. The song is performed by the K-pop group HUNTR/X, featuring vocals from EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami.

The songwriters behind the award-winning song – EJAE, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Mark Sonnenblick – were recognized with the award. News reports often highlighted this as the first time a K-Pop song had ever won a Grammy.

Even though the event was acknowledged, most of the conversation still centered on who won Song of the Year, likely because it’s a high-profile award and many people expected Golden to win.

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2026-02-02 22:58