Billie Eilish Blasts ICE Minnesota Operation While Accepting MLK Jr. Environmental Justice Award: ‘We’re Seeing Our Neighbors Being Kidnapped’
The singer told the audience on Saturday's event that it's "really hard to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our own homes or in our streets."
Billie Eilish at the “Avatar: Fire and Ash” World Premiere held at the Dolby Theatre on Dec. 1, 2025, in Los Angeles.
A week after a Trump administration spokesperson slammed Billie Eilish for what she deemed the singer’s “garbage rhetoric” about aggressive ICE immigration operations in Minnesota that resulted in the killing of American citizen and mother of three Renee Nicole Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross, the Oscar-winning star doubled-down on her criticism of the White House’s enforcement tactics.
On Saturday (Jan. 17), Eilish was at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta to accept the 2026 MLK Jr. Beloved Community Award For Environmental Justice, where her Changemaker Program — which allowed fans on her Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour to buy tickets that raised money for non-profits addressing climate change, food insecurity and climate justice — was honored for its plans to donate more than $11.5 million to those efforts.
But Eilish, 24, who in October called out the world’s billionaires and told them they should “give your money away” to help those in need, had more to say than a simple thank you for the honor. “To be honest, I really don’t feel deserving. And it’s very strange to be celebrated for working towards environmental justice at a time where it feels less achievable than ever given the state of our country and the world right now,” said Eilish, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The outspoken Eilish then took aim at what she deemed the turbulent, chaotic state of our nation in the midst of the Trump immigration crackdown and roll-back of President Biden’s historic environmental initiatives in deference to big oil, adding, “We’re seeing our neighbors being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped, resources to fight the climate crisis being cut for fossil fuels and animal agriculture destroying our planet, and people’s access to food and healthcare becoming a privilege for the wealthy instead of a new basic human right for all Americans. It is very clear that protecting our planet and our communities is not a priority for this administration. And it’s really hard to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our own homes or in our streets.”
Following the Jan. 7 killing of Good, 37, who was shot three times at point-blank range by Ross while she was driving away from him, Eilish ripped into ICE on her Instagram Story, writing, “ICE is a federally funded and supported terrorist group under the department of homeland security that has done nothing to make our streets safer.”
At Saturday’s event that also featured a performance from Chance the Rapper, Eilish admitted that the words and deeds of the other honorees inspired her to keep using her platform to push for change. “I am so inspired by all the stories and the other honorees tonight and everyone in this room, and I’m grateful to everyone and for the huge community of people who are taking action centered on Dr. King’s message,” Eilish said. “I just want to thank my mom, both my parents, for raising me the way they did. I wouldn’t be doing any of this without you, Mom. I have this platform and I think it’s my responsibility to use it, so I feel like I’m just doing what anyone in my position should be doing.”
The MLK Beloved Community Awards, co-hosted by Tony winner Anika Noni Rose (Princess and the Frog) and Aldis Hodge (Cross) will air on BET in February.
