Finneas Blasts Critics of Billie Eilish’s Bold Grammy Speech, Cites ‘Epstein Files’
Billie Eilish used her moment at the Grammy Awards to deliver a message that resonated far beyond the music industry—and while it inspired many, it clearly ruffled the feathers of the establishment. Now, her brother and longtime collaborator, Finneas, is stepping up to defend her against a wave of high-profile detractors.
Taking to Instagram Stories following the February 1 ceremony, Finneas didn’t mince words regarding the backlash aimed at his sister’s acceptance speech. “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said,” he wrote, before delivering a sharp social commentary: “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”
The controversy stems from Eilish’s win for Song of the Year with “Wildflower,” a standout track from her 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft. The victory marked her 11th Grammy win, but rather than a standard thank-you list, Eilish utilized the global platform to challenge the current administration’s immigration policies.
Joined on stage by Finneas to accept the trophy from songwriting icon Carole King, Eilish addressed the audience with raw conviction. “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 stated. Eilish, along with several other attendees, wore an “ICE Out” pin to protest aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that recently resulted in the tragic deaths of two American citizens.
“I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting,” Eilish continued, concluding her speech with a blunt critique of federal enforcement agencies.
This isn’t the first time the duo has faced criticism for their activism. Finneas has been particularly vocal in challenging the “shut up and sing” narrative often pushed by conservative pundits. Responding to a USA Today op-ed that suggested celebrities should avoid politics, Finneas argued on Threads that the media’s obsession with celebrity opinions proves their influence.
“You just can’t do both,” Finneas noted. “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.”
