The Tongva tribe has responded to Billie Eilish’s comments at the 2026 Grammy Awards about “stolen land”.
The 24-year-old singer made waves on February 1 during her acceptance speech for Song of the Year at the Crypto.com Arena.
She used the platform to voice her opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies, stating: “No one is illegal on stolen land,” followed by a shout of “F** ICE.”
The comments were met with cheers and standing ovations from the crowd.
However, the Tongva tribe, who are the indigenous people of the Los Angeles Basin and the “First Angelenos,” acknowledged that while they appreciated the sentiment, Eilish’s home “is situated in our ancestral land”.
“Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when Public Figures provide visibility to the true history of this country,” the spokesperson said, per Daily Mail.
“It is our hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory,” they added.
The tribe revealed that they “partnered closely with the Recording Academy to author the official Land Acknowledgment statement shared during Grammy week and at the Premiere Ceremony”.
“The Recording Academy has been an incredible partner to our tribe, and we look forward to continuing the relationship to ensure the voices of the First People of this land are heard and honored. Ekwa Shem- We are here!” they concluded.
Public Backlash and Criticism
Eilish’s Grammys speech sparked controversy on social media, with some critics pointing out the contradiction between her words and her multimillion-dollar property located on land that the Tongva tribe calls home.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was among those mocking the remarks, tweeting, “Oh, gee, this ‘stolen land’ nonsense again? Maybe she should step up and forfeit her Southern California mansion since it is supposedly on ‘stolen land.’”
Others echoed similar sentiments. “Any white person who does a public ‘stolen land’ acknowledgement should immediately give his or her land to Native Americans. Otherwise, they don’t mean it,” said Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on social media.
Support for Immigrant Rights at the Grammys
Despite the backlash, Eilish was not alone in using the Grammy stage to make a statement on immigration. Other artists like Shaboozey, Olivia Dean, and Bad Bunny also spoke out about immigrant rights.
Shaboozey, accepting the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, declared, “Immigrants built this country. Literally. Actually. So this is for them.”
“This is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunity to be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories, and your traditions here. You give America color,” he added.
Olivia Dean, who won Best New Artist, shared her personal connection to the immigrant experience, saying: “I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Bad Bunny, who received the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album and Album of the Year, emphasized unity and love, saying: “We are humans and we are Americans”.
“The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love,” he added. “So please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it. we love. And that’s the way to do it. Don’t forget that, please.”
