DHS Denies Australian Influencer's Claim That Billie Eilish Got Him Deported

Homeland security officials refute influencer Drew Pavlou's assertion that his deportation was tied to his social media posts about the pop star.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 5:31am

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Homeland security officials have denied claims made by Australian influencer Drew Pavlou that pop star Billie Eilish was responsible for his recent deportation from the U.S. Pavlou had started a crowdfunding campaign to fly to the U.S. and move into Eilish's $3 million mansion after her anti-ICE comments at the 2026 Grammy Awards. However, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told The New York Post that "claims that this individual's admissibility was tied to external reports regarding Billie Eilish are false."

Why it matters

Eilish's comments at the Grammys criticizing ICE and claiming "no one is illegal on stolen land" sparked a backlash from conservative critics, some of whom argued she should give up her own mansion to Native Americans. Pavlou's deportation claims further fueled the controversy around Eilish's political statements, though homeland security officials have now dismissed his allegations.

The details

After Eilish made her anti-ICE remarks at the Grammys, Australian influencer Drew Pavlou started a crowdfunding campaign to fly to the U.S. and move into Eilish's $3 million mansion, claiming her comments were hypocritical. However, when Pavlou arrived at LAX, he was deported. Pavlou then claimed on social media that Eilish's "legal team" had contacted the Department of Homeland Security to get him deported, but DHS officials have denied this, stating "claims that this individual's admissibility was tied to external reports regarding Billie Eilish are false."

  • On February 1, 2026, Billie Eilish made anti-ICE comments during her acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards.
  • On February 17, 2026, Drew Pavlou was deported at LAX after attempting to fly to the U.S.

The players

Billie Eilish

A 24-year-old American pop superstar who made controversial anti-ICE comments during her 2026 Grammy Awards acceptance speech.

Drew Pavlou

A 24-year-old Australian influencer who started a crowdfunding campaign to move into Eilish's mansion after her Grammys remarks, but was deported at LAX.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, which denied Pavlou's claims that Eilish was behind his deportation.

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What they’re saying

“Claims that this individual's admissibility was tied to external reports regarding Billie Eilish are false.”

— Customs and Border Protection spokesperson

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Billie Eilish's political statements, with some critics accusing her of hypocrisy. However, homeland security officials have firmly denied any connection between Eilish and the deportation of the Australian influencer, underscoring the need to verify claims before spreading them further.