Finneas has publicly defended his sister Billie Eilish following online backlash over her anti-ICE remarks at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards. He forcefully pushed back against critics and called out what he described as a clear double standard in the public response to her speech.
Billie Eilish and Finneas won Song of the Year at the 68th Annual GRAMMYs for “WILDFLOWER,” from her 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft. During her acceptance speech on February 1 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, Eilish used the moment to address immigration and immigrant rights, stating: “Nobody is illegal on stolen land. We need to keep fighting and speaking up. Our voices do matter.”
While the speech drew applause inside the arena, it quickly ignited debate online. Many questioned the appropriateness of political commentary at an awards show and raised broader arguments about celebrity activism, land ownership, and hypocrisy. Supporters, meanwhile, praised Eilish for using one of music’s biggest stages to speak on a deeply personal and political issue.
As the discussion escalated, Finneas responded directly on Threads, sharply criticizing those attacking his sister. “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.”
Finneas later expanded on his stance while responding to a post from USA Today, addressing what he sees as selective outrage toward artists who speak out. “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.”
Photo by Getty Images for the Recording Academy®
Leave a Reply