Stars Protest ICE at 2026 Spirit Awards

Natasha Rothwell, Tessa Thompson and Kumail Nanjiani among celebrities speaking out against immigration policies.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Several celebrities, including Natasha Rothwell, Tessa Thompson and Kumail Nanjiani, used the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Rothwell went off script to say "Fuck ICE" before presenting an award, while other stars wore "ICE Out" pins. The protests came amid a tense political climate under the Trump administration and following high-profile killings of immigrants by ICE agents. Filmmakers also used their acceptance speeches to raise awareness about issues like systemic racism and dangerous laws.

Why it matters

The celebrities' protests at the Spirit Awards reflect the ongoing tensions and debates around U.S. immigration policies, particularly under the Trump administration. Their actions highlight how the entertainment industry is using high-profile platforms to speak out against the treatment of immigrants and the tactics of federal agencies like ICE.

The details

During the 2026 Spirit Awards ceremony, several stars made their anti-ICE stance known. Natasha Rothwell, while presenting an award, went off script to say "I'm gonna go to the prompter, but I just want to say, 'Fuck ICE.'" She was also wearing an "ICE Out" pin, as were other celebrities like Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon, Tessa Thompson and Lake Bell. The pins and statements were made in response to the high-profile killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis last month, which sparked national outrage. Filmmakers also used their acceptance speeches to raise awareness, with the directors of "Esta Isla" stressing the importance of "everybody's voice" and the filmmaker of "The Perfect Neighbor" discussing "manufactured fear and weaponized racism."

  • The 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Natasha Rothwell

An actress known for her role in the TV series "The White Lotus", Rothwell used her time presenting an award to make an anti-ICE statement.

Tessa Thompson

An actress who was among the celebrities wearing an "ICE Out" pin at the Spirit Awards.

Kumail Nanjiani

An actor and comedian who also wore an "ICE Out" pin in protest at the ceremony.

Lorraine Jones Molina

The co-director of the film "Esta Isla", which won the John Cassavetes Award, used her acceptance speech to stress the importance of "everybody's voice".

Cristian Carretero

The co-director of "Esta Isla" along with Lorraine Jones Molina.

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What they’re saying

“I'm gonna go to the prompter, but I just want to say, 'Fuck ICE.'”

— Natasha Rothwell (Hollywood Reporter)

“In this time of such inequality and just so many people being silenced and dehumanized, it's so important for us to raise our voices, and that's the power of independent cinema and filmmaking, and to change the narrative.”

— Lorraine Jones Molina, Co-director, "Esta Isla" (Hollywood Reporter)

“This film is her [Owens'] legacy, and we are so grateful to her family for trusting us with this story. And our film is made predominantly from police body camera footage. It's about the intersection of manufactured fear, weaponized racism and dangerous laws like Stand Your Ground that polarize neighbors and embolden hatred and criminal behavior.”

— Geeta Gandbhir, Filmmaker, "The Perfect Neighbor" (Hollywood Reporter)

What’s next

The protests and statements made by celebrities and filmmakers at the 2026 Spirit Awards are likely to continue sparking discussions around U.S. immigration policies and the role of the entertainment industry in social and political issues.

The takeaway

The outspoken protests against ICE at the 2026 Spirit Awards reflect the entertainment industry's growing willingness to use high-profile platforms to take strong stances on controversial political topics, particularly around immigration under the Trump administration.