Billie Eilish's Grammy Speech Sparks Discussion on Land Ownership and Immigration

During the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 1, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell accepted the Song of the Year award for 'Wildflower'. Eilish used her acceptance speech to deliver a political message.

She stated:

"As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything, but no one is illegal on stolen land. It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. And I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter."

Eilish concluded her speech with a comment referencing United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Online Discussions Emerge Regarding Eilish's Comments

Following the ceremony, discussions arose online regarding Eilish's comments. Some individuals pointed out that her home in Los Angeles is reportedly situated on land historically belonging to the Tongva tribe, the indigenous people of the Los Angeles Basin.

Political commentator Eric Daugherty suggested Eilish could host undocumented immigrants at her residence. Another online comment questioned her statement, asking if she planned to return her mansion.

Tongva Tribe Issues Statement to Daily Mail

On Monday, February 2, a spokesperson for the Tongva tribe issued a statement to the Daily Mail. The spokesperson affirmed that Eilish's home is allegedly located on their ancestral land.

They clarified that Eilish had not directly contacted the tribe regarding her property. However, the spokesperson acknowledged the value of public figures raising awareness about the country's history. The tribe expressed hope that future discussions would explicitly reference them to ensure public understanding that the greater Los Angeles basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory.