Tongva Tribe Responds to Billie Eilish's 'Stolen Land' ICE Callout at Grammys

The indigenous tribe says Eilish's home sits on their ancestral land, but they appreciate her raising awareness.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:23pm

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Billie Eilish's comments about 'stolen land' and ICE during her Grammy acceptance speech have drawn a response from the Tongva tribe, the indigenous people of the Los Angeles area where Eilish's home is located. The Tongva tribe said they appreciate Eilish bringing visibility to the true history of the land, but wish she had reached out to them before making the statement.

Why it matters

Eilish's comments highlighted the ongoing issues around indigenous land rights and the history of colonization in the United States. The Tongva tribe's response demonstrates the importance of acknowledging the original inhabitants of an area and working with them when making public statements about the land.

The details

While accepting the Song of the Year award at the Grammys, Billie Eilish told the crowd 'As grateful as I feel, I honestly don't feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land... F*** ICE.' A conservative journalist then pointed out that Eilish's home is situated on land historically inhabited by the Tongva tribe. A Tongva spokesperson confirmed this and said they wished Eilish had reached out to them before making the statement, though they do appreciate her bringing visibility to the true history of the land.

  • Billie Eilish made the comments during her Grammy acceptance speech on February 5, 2026.
  • The Tongva tribe spokesperson responded to Eilish's comments on February 6, 2026.

The players

Billie Eilish

A popular American singer-songwriter who made comments about 'stolen land' and ICE during her Grammy acceptance speech.

Tongva Tribe

The indigenous people of the Los Angeles area, including where Billie Eilish's home is located. They say her home sits on their ancestral land.

Eric Daugherty

A conservative journalist who publicized the fact that Eilish's home is situated on Tongva ancestral land.

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What they’re saying

“We do value the instance when public figures provide visibility to the true history of this country”

— Tongva Tribe Spokesperson (Daily Mail)

“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.”

— Tongva Tribe Spokesperson (Daily Mail)

What’s next

The Tongva tribe says they have reached out to Billie Eilish to show their appreciation for her comments and to discuss further collaboration on raising awareness about the history of the land.

The takeaway

Eilish's comments highlighted the ongoing need to acknowledge and work with indigenous communities when discussing the history and ownership of land. This case demonstrates the importance of open communication and collaboration between public figures and Native American tribes.