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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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Singer Billie Eilish has been criticized by some social media users regarding her reference to "stolen land" while speaking at the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday.
Eilish won Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards for her song WILDFLOWER from her third album Hit Me Hard and Soft. She accepted the award with her brother Finneas O’Connell, and both wore pins reading, "ICE OUT."
"No one is illegal on stolen land," Eilish said during her speech.
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Some social media users alleged that Eilish lives on land once belonging to the Tongva tribe. The tribe has deep historical ties to the Los Angeles area, but it is not recognized by the federal government, according to the California Native American Heritage Commission.
One X user said Eilish’s home "is built where the Tongva tribes once lived," and asked, "Any plans on returning it?"
Another X user wrote, "I am done with sanctimony from celebrities. Billie Eilish denounces stolen land while owning properties on (former) Tongva territory, including a ranch now worth millions. If she is serious, deed it back and live modestly. She won’t. It is virtue, lecturing the public while profiting from the system she condemns."
The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Tongva told Newsweek, "We appreciate the opportunity to provide clarity regarding the recent comments made by Billie Eilish. As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land."
The organization said "Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property," but "we do value the instance when Public Figures provide visibility to the true history of this country."
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Eilish for comment.
Why It Matters
Eilish’s comments come as President Donald Trump’s administration is carrying out a series of federal immigration enforcement operations in major cities. The operations have sparked scrutiny and protests.
Two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, were fatally shot by federal agents last month as they carried out immigration enforcement operations. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was killed by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24. DHS said on social media that an individual, later identified by family as Pretti, had approached Border Patrol officers on Saturday with a handgun. In videos of the shooting taken by bystanders, Pretti is seen with a phone in his hand. The footage does not appear to show him with a visible weapon.
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot on January 7 by an ICE officer during a traffic stop in a residential neighborhood in Minneapolis. State and local leaders have disputed DHS claims that the ICE officer was acting in self-defense.
Eilish was not the only celebrity who criticized ICE while accepting an award on Sunday. Bad Bunny said, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out. We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans," as he accepted the award for Best Música Urbana Album.
What To Know
The Tongva tribe’s members reside in what is now known as the Greater Los Angeles Basin. The area includes Los Angeles and surrounding areas, where many celebrities reside.
The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Tongva said the organization has reached out to Eilish’s team "to express our appreciation for her comments."
"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," the organization said.
The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Tongva said this year marked a "historic milestone" for the community, as the Grammys Premiere ceremony opened with a welcoming led by organization members Chief Anthony Morales, Andrew Morales and Mona Recalde.
The tribal council also partnered with the Recording Academy to author the official Land Acknowledgment statement shared during Grammy week and at the premiere ceremony, the organization said.
What People Are Saying
Billie Eilish, during her speech at the Grammy Awards: "It’s just really hard to know what to say, and what to do right now. I just feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting, speaking up, and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter. F*** ICE is all I want to say. Sorry."
The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Tongva, in comments to Newsweek: "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!"
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