Lady Gaga Denounces ICE Tactics and Supports Minnesota Communities During Tokyo Performance
Despite being thousands of miles away, Lady Gaga is keeping a close eye on the escalating tensions in the United States. During her recent concert residency at the Tokyo Dome, the pop icon paused her performance to express solidarity with those impacted by recent violence in Minnesota and the ongoing operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On the evening of January 29, Gaga stepped away from her high-energy set to deliver a somber message from her piano. Addressing the crowd, she turned her focus toward the mass deportations and aggressive enforcement strategies currently being carried out under the Donald Trump administration.
“I want to take a moment to discuss something that is weighing heavily on my heart,” Gaga told the audience. “In just a few days, I’ll be returning home, and it aches to think about the families, the children, and the communities across America being relentlessly targeted by ICE. I am thinking about the pain they are enduring and how lives are being dismantled right before our eyes.”
The 14-time Grammy winner specifically cited Minnesota as a focal point of her concern, noting the atmosphere of fear that has gripped the region. She called for a systemic shift toward empathy and responsibility, urging political leaders to reconsider their current trajectory.
“When a community’s sense of safety is stripped away, it affects the soul of the entire country,” Gaga added. “We must find our way back to peace and accountability. No one should have to fear for their life simply to exist with dignity. I truly hope our leaders are listening to the call for mercy and swift change.”
Political friction regarding ICE has reached a breaking point this month, particularly following controversial operations in Minneapolis. The deaths of two individuals, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during encounters with federal agents have ignited nationwide protests. While the administration maintains that officers acted in self-defense, eyewitness footage has led many to dispute those claims.
Gaga is not the only artist using her platform to speak out. Recently, Olivia Rodrigo took to social media to call the agency’s actions “unconscionable,” while Billie Eilish used her MLK Jr. Beloved Community Award acceptance speech to highlight the erosion of civil rights and the targeting of peaceful residents.
Following her final Tokyo show, Gaga is set to return to the U.S. for the next leg of her Mayhem Ball Tour. Her schedule remains open for the upcoming Grammy Awards on February 1, where she is a top contender with seven nominations. Her critically acclaimed album MAYHEM and the Harlequin companion project have solidified her presence in this year’s awards cycle.
Additionally, Gaga is featured in a high-profile Super Bowl campaign, where she performs a moving rendition of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Reflected on the choice of song in a recent behind-the-scenes clip, she remarked, “Mister Rogers represented a specific kind of kindness and conviction—values that feel more essential now than ever.”
