When Billie Eilish used her Grammy acceptance speech to criticize immigration policies, her collaborator and brother, Finneas, quickly jumped to her defense against critics, but the siblings are now facing a different kind of scrutiny regarding a local land claim, as reported by LadBible. The singer, who took home the ‘Song of the Year’ award for her track ‘Wildflower,’ used her time in the spotlight to deliver a potent message, resulting in mixed reactions across the country.
Eilish and Finneas were both sporting ‘ICE OUT’ badges when they stepped onto the Grammys stage, making it clear where they stood on the issue of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Minneapolis. Eilish, who is only 24, expressed that she felt “really hopeful” in the room, urging attendees to “keep fighting” for change.
She wrapped up her remarks with a blunt declaration, stating that “no one is illegal on stolen land,” in a direct reference to the colonization of the Americas. She then concluded, “And f— ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say. Sorry!” You just know that kind of statement is going to stir the pot, especially in the currently divided US. While Eilish and Finneas are known for being outspoken on political topics, the swift backlash against the singer was intense.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for Eilish to turn a general statement into real, tangible support for the First People of the area
That’s where her brother stepped in. Finneas wrote in a post, “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said during her acceptance speech.” He then went straight for the jugular, adding a blistering comment about their credibility: “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.” He also shared other posts supporting his sister, including one that joked about “cartoonishly evil men” getting mad at her for wanting to make the world better.
However, the conversation quickly shifted from generalized political outrage to a much more specific, local issue. Since Eilish mentioned being on “stolen land,” critics were quick to point out the irony of her own reported $3 million family home in Los Angeles. That property, located in the Highland Park neighborhood, reportedly sits on ancestral land belonging to the Tongva people.
A representative for the Tongva people has since confirmed that the family home is indeed situated in their ancestral territory. This is where things get really interesting, because the tribe isn’t necessarily criticizing Eilish; they’re asking for more visibility and direct action.
While the spokesperson expressed “appreciation” for Eilish’s statement because it provided visibility to the true history of the country, they noted a key detail: Eilish has not directly contacted the tribe regarding her property. This is a tough spot for Eilish. It’s great that she’s highlighting the problem on a huge stage like the Grammys, but you really need to follow through with the local communities you are referencing.
The Tongva spokesperson added that they hope Eilish and others will explicitly reference their nation in future discussions. They want the public to clearly understand that the greater Los Angeles basin remains Gabrielino Tongva territory.
Published: Feb 6, 2026 03:00 pm