Los Angeles, Jan 20 (.) Billie Eilish delivered a strong rebuke of the Trump administration’s approach to civil rights, immigration enforcement and environmental policy while accepting the Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Award for Environmental Justice over the weekend in Atlanta.
According to Rolling Stone, Eilish used her acceptance speech at the King Center to highlight what she described as worsening conditions under the current federal leadership.
“It’s very strange to be celebrated for working toward environmental justice at a time where it feels less achievable than ever given the state of our country and the world right now,” Eilish said.
She added, “We’re seeing our neighbours being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped, resources to fight the climate crisis being cut for fossil fuels and animal agriculture destroying our planet, and people’s access to food and healthcare becoming a privilege for the wealthy instead of a new basic human right for all Americans.”
The Grammy-winning artist has previously used major public platforms to address social and political issues. At the WSJ Innovator Awards in October, Eilish urged wealthy individuals to redistribute their resources, announcing that her tour had raised USD 11.5 million in charitable donations.
Her criticism of federal immigration enforcement intensified following the January death of Renee Nicole Good, 37, who was killed by an ICE agent. In a series of Instagram Stories, Eilish condemned the agency, describing ICE as “a federally funded and supported terrorist group under the Department of Homeland Security that has done nothing to make our streets safer.”
She also shared a memorial post listing 32 individuals who died in ICE detention during 2025, making it one of the deadliest years for the agency since its establishment in 2003.
“It is very clear that protecting our planet and our communities is not a priority for this administration,” Eilish said during her speech. “And it’s really hard to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our own homes or in our streets.”
Eilish added that she feels a responsibility to speak out, saying, “I have this platform and I think it’s my responsibility to use it, so I feel like I’m just doing what anyone in my position should be doing.”
Despite the honor, the singer expressed mixed feelings about receiving the award, stating that she does not “feel deserving” of the recognition. She concluded her remarks by acknowledging fellow honorees and thanking her parents for their support.
. MI PRP