Kehlani didn’t shy away from boldly criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while walking the red carpet at the 2026 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
“I wanted to say fk ICE,” the “Fold” songstress said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday.
“Folks, we are such a powerful group that I think it would be foolhardy for us not to all be in the same room at the same time and make some kind of statement in this country.”
Kehlani, 30, also wore an “ICE OUT” pin with a sheer black evening dress.
The hitmaker won Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for her 2025 song “Folded,” and also voiced her opposition to ICE in her acceptance speech.
“Together, we are stronger in numbers and we (and must) speak out against all the injustices happening in the world right now,” she said.
“I hope everyone is inspired to come together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on,” Kehlani continued, closing her speech with “Fk ICE.”
The “After Hours” singer is one of many celebrities who have chosen to condemn ICE since the shooting deaths of Minnesota resident Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Preti last month.
Preeti was reportedly shot dead while filming a police officer after she tried to help a civilian who was pushed to the ground by agents.
The case is being investigated by the Department of Justice, and the investigators who shot Preeti have been placed on administrative leave.
Olivia Rodrigo, Pedro Pascal, Katy Perry, and Jamie Lee Curtis are other stars who have also used their platforms to denounce ICE.
Pascal has shared several anti-ICE posts, including one that referred to the actions of immigration agents as “unspeakable act after unspeakable act.”
Most recently, Pascal voiced support for an “ICE OUT” national shutdown on January 30th, encouraging people not to work, shop or go to school.
Other musicians, including Billie Eilish, have condemned their fellow A-listers for remaining silent.
“Hey fellow celebs, let’s speak up,” the “Ocean Eyes” singer posted on her Instagram Story last week.
Meanwhile, comedian Bill Maher laughed at the idea of wearing pins to protest ICE when several celebrities, including Mark Ruffalo and Wanda Sykes, wore pins that read “Be Good” at last month’s Golden Globes ceremony, shortly after federal agents shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Maher, 70, laughed on the red carpet at the awards ceremony and said, “I’m just here today for show business.”
“You know, it’s a terrible thing that happened and it shouldn’t have happened and it wouldn’t have happened if they hadn’t acted like such thugs,” he added. “But you don’t have to put a pin on it.”
