Natasha Rothwell's Bold Anti-ICE Statement at Independent Spirit Awards
During Saturday's 2026 Independent Spirit Awards ceremony, actor and host Natasha Rothwell made headlines with an explicit two-word message directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The "White Lotus" star, who co-hosted the event alongside "Hacks" actor Hannah Einbinder, took advantage of the ceremony's live YouTube broadcast to bypass traditional broadcast regulations.
Uncensored Political Commentary
"I'm going to go to the prompter, but I just want to say fuck ICE," Rothwell declared to immediate applause from the Santa Monica, California audience. The live streaming format on YouTube allowed this unfiltered political commentary to reach viewers without Federal Communications Commission censorship that typically applies to broadcast television.
Rothwell's statement resonated with many attendees, reflecting growing frustration with recent immigration enforcement actions. Since former President Donald Trump initiated mass deportations last year, mobilizing thousands of ICE officers nationwide, multiple violent incidents have occurred, including fatal shootings of civilians.
Tragic Incidents Fuel Public Outrage
Recent tragedies have intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement. On January 7, ICE officers fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good during an operation. Just weeks later on January 24, Border Patrol agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti. These incidents have contributed to mounting public concern about immigration enforcement methods.
Despite the Trump administration announcing an end to its immigration crackdown in Minnesota last week, public sentiment remains strongly critical. A national NPR/PBS News/Marist poll conducted between January 27-30 revealed that 65% of 1,462 surveyed American adults believe ICE has gone too far in enforcing immigration laws under Trump's policies.
Hollywood's Growing Activism
Rothwell is not alone in using award platforms to address immigration concerns. "The Pitt" star Taylor Dearden told Variety on the red carpet that ICE's immigration raids feel like "an assault on everyone, at all times," emphasizing that Los Angeles wouldn't exist "without immigrants."
"Train Dreams" director Clint Bentley devoted much of his Best Director acceptance speech to immigration issues, questioning whether filmmaking matters when "there's so many people trying to put up walls and put people in cages and divide people."
Celebrity Voices Amplify Concerns
Other prominent figures have joined the chorus of criticism. Billie Eilish expressed discomfort with celebration while accepting the 2026 MLK Jr. Beloved Community Award For Environmental Justice, stating she didn't "feel deserving" given current global circumstances.
Most recently, Bad Bunny used his Grammy acceptance speech to declare "ICE out," asserting: "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say, 'ICE out.' We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans."
These collective statements from entertainment industry leaders highlight how award ceremonies have become platforms for political expression, particularly regarding immigration policies that many view as excessively harsh and divisive.
