Ricky Gervais Criticizes Grammy Winners for Political Statements
British comedian Ricky Gervais has reignited his long-standing critique of celebrities using award shows as platforms for political commentary. Following the 2026 Grammy Awards, where several winners made statements about immigration policies, Gervais took to social media to express his disapproval.
Grammy Winners Address Immigration Issues
During Sunday night's ceremony, multiple artists used their acceptance speeches to criticize U.S. immigration enforcement. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, declared "ICE out" after winning the Grammy for best musica urbana album, emphasizing that immigrants "are not savage" and "are humans, and we are Americans."
Billie Eilish, accepting the song of the year award, echoed similar sentiments with stronger language, stating "f*** ICE" and urging continued protest. She added, "No one is illegal on stolen land. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter."
Best new artist Olivia Dean spoke about her immigrant heritage, describing herself as "a product of bravery" and calling for celebration of immigrants. Shaboozey, winning his first Grammy for best country duo/group performance, dedicated his award to immigrants as well.
Gervais Revisits 2020 Golden Globes Advice
In response to these speeches, Gervais reposted his 2020 Golden Globes monologue quote on X, where he had advised winners: "If you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world."
Accompanying the repost, Gervais wrote, "They're still not listening," with a laughing-crying emoji, highlighting his belief that celebrities continue to ignore his advice against political commentary during award shows.
Indigenous Tribe Responds to Eilish's Comments
Billie Eilish's reference to "stolen land" prompted a response from the Tongva tribe, the Indigenous inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin. A Tongva spokesperson told the Daily Mail that while Eilish hasn't contacted the tribe directly, they value when public figures bring attention to the true history of the country.
"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 spokesperson added, noting that Eilish's mansion sits on their ancestral land.
Political Figures Mock Eilish's Statements
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to Eilish's comments on X, writing, "Oh, gee, this 'stolen land' nonsense again? Maybe she should step up and forfeit her Southern California mansion since it is supposedly on 'stolen land.'"
Tesla CEO Elon Musk replied "Exactly" to DeSantis's post, while Utah Senator Mike Lee added, "Any White person who does a public 'stolen land' acknowledgment should immediately give his or her land to Native Americans. Otherwise, they don't mean it."
Gervais's History of Award Show Commentary
Gervais, who hosted the Golden Globes five times, has built a reputation for mocking Hollywood's elite during awards ceremonies. In a 2017 interview with Postmedia, he explained his approach: "There are 200 million people watching the Golden Globes and there's nothing in it for them. They're not winning awards, they're not millionaires, so why are they watching? I play that outsider where a guy sitting at home drinking a beer can laugh."
The comedian added that he teases celebrities because awards shows aren't a "spectator sport," and he aims to entertain the average viewer rather than the wealthy attendees.
This latest controversy comes just a month after comedian Wanda Sykes accepted a Golden Globe on Gervais's behalf and thanked "God and the trans community," continuing the ongoing dialogue about political statements in entertainment award ceremonies.
