Billie Eilish’s defiant “stolen land” speech instantly became one of the most replayed moments of the 2026 Grammys, a night already drowning in controversy. While stars debated ICE from the stage and red carpet, it was Eilish’s four words — “f*** ICE, that’s all” — that cut deepest into America’s culture war. Within hours, critics were calling her a hypocrite for condemning colonization while living in a luxury mansion built on Native land. Then the Tongva, the “First Angelenos,” quietly stepped in.
Their response was not the takedown many expected. In a measured statement, the tribe confirmed Eilish’s home sits on their ancestral territory, noted she’s never contacted them, but thanked her for spotlighting the reality of stolen land. They’ve now reached out to her team, hoping future conversations name the Gabrieleno Tongva directly. In a night defined by outrage, their message was something rarer: a challenge wrapped in an invitation to do more than just speak.