Award acceptance speeches are often ones of gratitude and of humility. Celebrities will take that time to thank different people or groups of people in their lives, speaking on their own personal journey and what that award means to them. 

In some instances however, celebrities and people in the public eye may use those times to speak on issues they are passionate about. 

This was most definitely seen at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards occurring on Feb. 1, 2026.

“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Billie Eilish, pop artist and recent Grammy winner, said.

The artist called out the current administration of America as a part of her acceptance speech after receiving the award for Song of the Year for her and her brother’s song, “Wildflower”.

This is not Eilish’s first time calling out things in speeches, the singer also called out billionaires when receiving the Music Innovator Award at the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Innovator Awards on Wed, Oct. 29, 2025.

Eilish talked about how those with money are not doing enough and should be doing more, targeting billionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg sharing the room with her during the speech. 

Her words reflect her own values, as Eilish is a notorious donator to non-profit organizations, as well as taking the time at the beginning of each show on her tour to recognize environmental issues and solutions and how her fans’ support are a direct reason why she can accomplish these donations. 

More impactful speeches were given at this year’s Grammy Awards, all alluding to similar subjects, by artists such as Olivia Dean, Shaboozy and Bad Bunny. Both brought light to a difficult but important subject in different ways, with Dean honoring her immigrant grandparents and Bad Bunny directly confronting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” Bad Bunny said during the acceptance speech for the Grammy of Best Música Urbana Album. “ICE out.”

During her acceptance speech for Best New Artist, singer Olivia Dean found a way to thank those who helped her get to where she is while simultaneously recognizing current events. She started off by stating how her grandparents are immigrants and she would not be here without them. 

“I am a product of bravery, and I think those people should be celebrated,” Dean said. 

In 2018, Jim Carrey delivered a message in his speech that is coincidentally relevant to current events taking place in the United States.  

“Shamelessness is not and will never be a superpower. It is the mark of a villain. Kidnapping children is not what great nations do,” Carrey said during his acceptance speech of the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. 

During the same time as Carrey’s speech and the first term of the current president, Meryl Streep gave words at the Golden Globes in 2017. She starts by naming different celebrities in the audience, what country they’re from, showcasing how well she knows her own peers.

This speech was in response to remarks made by the president and critiqued different things he’s said throughout the speech. 

“So Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if we kick them all out, you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts which are not the arts,” Streep said. 

Both of these speeches truly pertain to the experience citizens of the country are currently having, sharing insight. 

Most recently at the Grammy Awards, most if not all of these celebrities faced backlash for their speeches. Artists such as Billie Eilish and Shaboozy both received scrutiny for hypocrisy in their words by certain groups. 

Everything someone in the public eye says will receive judgement in some form or another, the importance is how they respond and if they understand where these criticisms are coming from. 

Celebrities who share their thoughts and opinions through these acceptance speeches are taking a risk. Many may argue the point of events such as the Grammys and the Golden Globes are meant to celebrate art solely, and don’t have a place for speeches with underlying politically, culturally, or socially controversial messages. 

However, none of these speeches took away from the music or art being celebrated. None of the speeches undermined artists’ accomplishments. They serve the role of acknowledging topics and issues that are relevant to current times. 

Celebrities may use their platform to share their opinions, making sure they understand the impact of their words. Watching for things such as hypocrisy and knowing who their audience is.