Finneas Rips ‘Outraged’ Critics Following Billie Eilish’s Viral Grammy Speech
Billie Eilish delivered a stirring address at the Grammy Awards that commanded the attention of the industry’s elite—though not all of them welcomed her message. In the wake of the ceremony, her brother and creative collaborator, Finneas, has issued a scathing response to the detractors who took issue with her political stance.
Taking to Instagram Stories following the February 1st event, Finneas didn’t mince words regarding the backlash his sister received for her acceptance speech. “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said during her acceptance speech,” he noted. He followed the observation with a biting jab: “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”
While a total sweep wasn’t a certainty, Eilish emerged victorious in the prestigious Song of the Year category for “Wildflower,” a standout track from her 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft. The win marked her 11th career Grammy, and she utilized the global platform to offer a sharp critique of the current administration’s policies.
Escorted to the stage by Finneas, Eilish received the trophy from legendary songwriter Carole King. Her remarks were immediate and pointed. “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,” she declared. Visible on her attire was an “ICE Out” pin—a symbol of protest against recent immigration enforcement escalations that led to the tragic deaths of two American citizens in January.
“I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter and the people matter,” Eilish added, concluding her speech with an unapologetic, “And f–k ICE is all I wanna say, sorry.”
This appearance follows weeks of vocal activism from Eilish, who recently labeled ICE a “terrorist group” and condemned their operations during her acceptance of the MLK Jr. Environmental Justice award. Finneas has been equally steadfast in his defense of their right to speak out, specifically targeting the rhetoric of conservative pundits who suggest artists should avoid political discourse.
When USA Today published an op-ed by Ingrid Jacques titled “PSA to celebs: Stick to performing, stay away from politics,” Finneas hit back on Threads, exposing what he views as a blatant double standard.
“You just can’t do both,” he wrote. “You can’t say it doesn’t matter what musicians or celebrities say or think but then talk about it for days. You’re out here making it matter. I’ll keep speaking up especially if it keeps bothering you.”
