While brandishing about its hyper nationalist mass deportation campaign in Minneapolis, the Trump administration forgot to factor in one thing—the fact that it coincides with the entertainment world’s award season. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” rapper Bad Bunny’s political message landed in the audience right as he intended. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” he said to a roaring standing ovation, at what is said to be one of the most political Grammys, in a long time. Political messages carry a different algorithm when mingled with acceptance speeches, symbolism carries an exponential reach when made on the red carpet. Precisely what happened as formidable names made their way to the Grammy festivities in downtown Los Angeles, wearing black and white ICE out lapel pins.
For political watchdogs, it was an action replay. All of the Sunday afternoon and onwards at the Grammys was reminiscent of a few weeks prior. When the red carpet and onstage moments at the Golden Globes were not let go in vain by Mark Ruffalo, Jean Smart. Ariana Grande and Wanda Sykes, as they sported Be Good, ICE Out lapel pins, in solidarity with the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by ICE officials. Ruffalo, leading the pack of activism, did not shy away from addressing the political environment of the time. “I’m not feeling so great. We have a woman named Renee Good who was murdered in our streets of America… As much as I love all this, I don’t know if I can pretend like this crazy stuff isn’t happening.”
At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, things were no different either with Hollywood heavyweights from Olivia Wilde to Natalie Portman leveraging the global platform by sporting ICE out pins. Portman called the current political developments in the country, “absolutely horrific and the worst of the worst of humanity.” Actor Natasha Lyonne spread the social media posts about the protest Sundancers Melt ICE.
At the Grammys too, Bad Bunny wasn’t the only artist revolting against immigration crackdowns, as the speeches got fiery, accessories symbolic, appeals heartfelt and jokes sarcastic with Billie Eilish, Finneas and Carole King among those pushing against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish accepted the honour for song of the year, but rejected the current political environment.
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Olivia Dean, accepting the award for best new artist, declared herself to be “a granddaughter of an immigrant, a product of bravery.”
The global artistes who have lent their voice
Even celebrities like Justin and Hailey Bieber, infamous for their political distance and neutral stance, came out wearing ICE out lapel pins. While a few formidable names in the entertainment world like Mark Ruffalo and Jimmy Kimmel have been vocal from the very beginning. Trevor Noah, while hosting the award show didn’t leave much unspoken, “The song of the year is a Grammy that every artist wants, almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein Island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
Trump, it seems, not just took the award show personally, but took it up personally too with a late night post on Truth Social. In the lengthy rant against Trevor Noah, the US President starts off by calling, “Grammy Awards, the worst, virtually unwatchable,” before moving onto Noah and calling him, “a total loser, pathetic, poor talentless, dope of an MC.” Threatening to sue him for a lot of money, Trump added, “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you.”
Scheduled for later this month are BAFTA film awards, to be followed soon after by the heavy weight Oscars, further ominous of national debates coming right into the spotlight. At the 97th Oscars last year, stars did not lose their time at the platform to champion political causes. Ukraine, Palestine and Congo all made their way to conversations on films and talent. Swedish singer and actor Kayo Shekoni had a little sartorial and satirical moment on the red carpet as she lifted up her black heel to reveal the words “free Congo” standing up for the conflict-ridden African nation. Conclave writer Peter Straughan stood up for Ukraine with a national flag pin accent on his tuxedo, while the Brutalist actor Guy Pearce sported a Free Palestine pin featuring a white dove on his lapel. The award season has just kicked off and the Trump administration is going to have a tough time dimming the noise of the applause by the audience, the speeches by the artists and symbolism on the red carpet.
By Manpriya Singh
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