O’Leary previously denounced celebrities who get political, telling them to "shut your mouth and just entertain"
Mark Ruffalo, an actor and outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, hit back at Kevin O’Leary after the Shark Tank reality TV star criticized Billie Eilish‘s anti-ICE Grammys acceptance speech.
Shortly after Eilish used her platform to reach millions across the globe, O’Leary appeared on Fox News to bash celebrities who get political. “Half the people in politics that you piss off won’t buy your music anymore,” O’Leary said on Tuesday. “It’s the first lesson 101 for celebrity: As you rise up, whether you’re a film star, a music star [or] whatever, shut your mouth and just entertain.”
Ruffalo defended Eilish’s speech in a Threads post on Thursday, Feb. 5. “Kevin O’Leary why don’t you STFU. It’s hilarious,” wrote Ruffalo. “You will go on any show and talk shit about any number of things and smugly expect us to listen to you, but you will dig into a real artist that dwarfs anything you dream of doing for actually saying something that resonates with 100’s of millions of people the world over.” The Oscar-nominated actor added, “It’s astounding the fantasy double standard Kevin O’Leary lives in. You played yourself well in Marty Supreme.”
When accepting the award for Song of the Year for “Wildflower” at the 2026 Grammys on Sunday, Eilish condemned ICE and spoke up for the rights of immigrants. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said during her speech. “It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now… I just I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.” Eilish then declared, “Fuck ICE,” before walking off stage.
Her brother and collaborator Finneas, whose own response was included in Ruffalo’s post, also defended his sister against criticism following her comments at the ceremony. “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24 year old sister said during her acceptance speech,” he wrote on Threads. “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”
Finneas defended his sister Billie Eilish after she was criticized by “very powerful old white men” for her Grammys acceptance speech. (Rolling Stone reports)
The duo won Song of the Year for “Wildflower” on Sunday night and Eilish used the opportunity to condemn ICE and speak up for the rights of immigrants. Both siblings wore”ICE Out” pins as Eilish urged people to stand strong against the ongoing ICE raids.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said. “It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now… I just I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.” Before walking off stage, Eilish declared: “Fuck ICE.”
Last night, Finneas took to Threads to support Eilish. “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24 year old sister said during her acceptance speech,” he wrote. “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”
Eilish wasn’t the only artist to speak out against ICE and the current administration at the Grammys. Bad Bunny shared arguably the most pointed and poignant words while accepting the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album, which began: “Before I say, ‘Thanks to God,’ I’m going to say, ‘ICE out.’”
Prior to the main telecast, Kehlani ended Best R&B Performance award speech with a vociferous, “Fuck ICE.” And Shaboozey dedicated his first Grammy — Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen,” his collaboration with Jelly Roll — to the “children of immigrants.”
Along with all the speeches, numerous artists showed up to the Grammys and walked the red carpet while sporting “ICE Out” pins. These included Eilish, her brother/collaborator Finneas, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Brandi Carlile, Jack Antonoff, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Margo Price, and Samara Joy.
“Wildflower” is the fourth single from Eilish’s third studio album, 2024’s Hit Me Hard and Soft. The win marks the singer-songwriter’s 10th Grammy. Eilish won Song of the Year in 2020 for her colossal hit, “Bad Guy,” and again in 2024 for the Academy Award-winning single “What Was I Made For?” from the Barbie soundtrack. She also took home Album of the Year for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.
