The 2026 GRAMMY Awards featured great performances and stunning outfits. However, this year’s awards were also full of statements from celebrities sharing their views on current political issues. Celebrities with large platforms who have used their access to the public to express their views on political events have faced backlash from other celebrities, political figures and ordinary citizens. Many say that it is not their job to share their views with their fans. On the other hand, celebrities who did not speak out are also facing criticism. Some argue that they should use their platforms to share their political opinions. This leads to debates on the role of celebrities in political issues.

There have been many instances in which celebrities have spoken out against an issue or told their fans how they felt, only to face significant consequences. During a performance in London, lead singer of The Chicks, Natalie Maines, said that she and her bandmates were “ashamed the President of the United States [was] from Texas” because of the upcoming invasion of Iraq that year.

Fans were furious, boycotting their music, banning them from radio stations, and organizing “chicken tosses” in which they discarded tapes, CDs, and concert tickets. Maine later apologized for her comment after facing widespread criticism from the group and others.

Even with past examples of fan backlash, such as the Chicks, this year’s GRAMMYs were full of celebrities using their platforms to speak their minds, encouraging others to do the same despite the risk of criticism.

Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for her song “Wildflower,” stating, “No one is illegal on stolen land” in her acceptance speech. Eilish additionally wore an ICE OUT pin, along with many celebrities, expressing their opposition to U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (or ICE) and the organization’s recent actions, such as the recent shootings of civilians and imprisonment of a five-year-old boy.

Another artist who gave a political speech at the GRAMMYs was Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, who also performed this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ICE out,” he said after winning the Best Musica Urbana Album. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens; we are humans, and we are Americans”. His speech was met with cheers.

After the awards, there was backlash from statements made during the award winners’ speeches. Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais said in a post on X that celebrities were “still not listening”, meaning they had ignored the statements he made during his Golden Globes speech in 2020: “if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a political platform to make a political speech,” Gervais said in his 2020 monologue, “you’re in no position to lecture the public about anything”.

However, people who are not speaking out are also facing harsh criticism, such as singer/songwriter Taylor Swift. Swift stayed silent during the awards and has faced backlash from fans who questioned her decision to withhold her political opinion on her large platform.

So which should it be? Should celebrities be free to express how they feel about politics without the fear of criticism? Or should they refrain from talking about issues regarding the government?

“It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in the room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting, speaking up, and protesting,” Eilish said in her speech. “Our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”