Bad Bunny gets standing ovation at 2026 Grammy Awards after opening with 'ICE Out'

Bad Bunny accepts the Album of the Year award for "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Pic/AFP

Bad Bunny received a standing ovation at the 2026 Grammys when he took a moment on Sunday to speak about the treatment of immigrants in the U.S. during his winning speech.

The 31-year-old star won Best Musica Urbana Album for DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS. As he walked on stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the crowd was already on its feet. But it was his first words about "ICE" and "humans" that made the moment even more powerful.

Bunny opened his speech with a clear message aimed at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He told the audience, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm gonna say ICE out. We're not savages, we're not animals, we're not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans," which brought a loud standing ovation from the crowd.

Acknowledging how easy it is to feel angry these days, Bunny shared, "Also, I wanna say to the people: I know it's tough not to hate these days, and I was thinking that sometimes we get contaminado, I don't know how to say that in English."

Bunny also shared his belief that "the only thing more powerful than hate is love," calling for a shift in how people respond to conflict.

"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.

His comments come after he opted not to take his Debi Tirar Mas Fotos World Tour to the U.S. due to the Trump administration's use of ICE and other federal agencies for an immigration crackdown. He has also faced backlash from Donald Trump and some Republicans after being named the headliner for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, immigration actions have increased across the country. ICE detention numbers have reached record levels, sparking strong debate from leaders, civil rights groups, and local communities, according to PEOPLE.

As reported by the publication, the situation has been especially intense in Minneapolis, where a large federal operation called "Operation Metro Surge" sent thousands of ICE and CBP officers into the city. Last month, two people, Renee Nicole Good, 37, and Alex Pretti, 37, were killed during clashes with federal agents. Their deaths led to widespread protests and calls for independent investigations.

After the announcement, Bad Bunny said the show is "for my people, my culture, and our history."

This year, Bad Bunny earned six Grammy nominations. Before the live show, he also won Best Global Music Performance for EoO. The Grammys are airing live from Los Angeles on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

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