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Bad Bunny received a standing ovation at the 2026 Grammys after opening his acceptance speech with powerful words directed at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid rising violence.
The 31-year-old Puerto Rican musician took the stage on Sunday, Feb. 2, to accept the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
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“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ICE out. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens—we are humans, and we are Americans,” he began, prompting a standing ovation from the audience.
“Also, I wanna say to the people: I know it’s tough not to hate these days, and I was thinking sometimes we get contaminado. I don’t know how to say that in English,” the singer added. (“Contaminado” translates to “contaminated” in English.)
Bad Bunny emphasized that “the only thing that is more powerful than hate is love,” calling for a shift in how people respond to conflict.
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“We have to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it—with love. Don’t forget that, please. Thank you. Thank you, God, and thank you to the Grammys,” he concluded.
The star’s comments come after he previously opted not to take his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour to the U.S. due to the Trump administration’s use of ICE and other federal agencies for an immigration crackdown.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the administration has expanded immigration operations nationwide, with ICE detention numbers reaching record levels by early 2026, drawing fierce debate from lawmakers, civil rights groups and communities nationwide.
The controversy has been most acute in Minneapolis, where an aggressive federal operation dubbed Operation Metro Surge has deployed thousands of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers into the city. Multiple violent confrontations between federal agents and local residents last month drew national attention, including the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good, 37, by an ICE agent on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti, 37, on Jan. 24 by U.S. Border Patrol officers.
Both deaths have sparked large protests, political backlash and calls for independent investigations.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny himself has found himself the target of backlash from Trump, 79, and conservatives following his announcement as the headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday, Feb. 8. In a statement released after the announcement, Bad Bunny said the upcoming performance is “for my people, my culture, and our history.”
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem previously said ICE agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl, though Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin would not confirm that to PEOPLE.
“We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution,” McLaughlin said on Jan. 29. “Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
Bad Bunny nabbed six Grammy nominations this year, having also won the award for Best Global Music Performance for “EoO” before the live show.
The Grammys are broadcasting live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS or stream them live and on-demand on Paramount+.
