The Tongva tribe of Southern California has issued a response to Billie Eilish’s "stolen land" declaration. During Sunday’s Grammy Awards, the singer wore an "ICE OUT" pin and told the crowd that "no one is illegal on stolen land." The 24-year-old artist used the stage to bash border enforcement and the current administration.
Critics quickly pointed out the irony of her statement. Eilish owns a multimillion-dollar Los Angeles estate on land historically inhabited by the Tongva people. The tribe confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that her home sits on their "ancestral land."
"Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property," the statement read. The tribe added that they value public figures providing visibility to the country’s true history. However, they expressed hope that future discussions will explicitly reference the tribe by name.
The Gabrieleno Tongva territory encompasses the greater Los Angeles Basin. Representatives for the tribe performed at the Grammy Pre-Show earlier that same evening. They have since reached out to Eilish’s team to discuss the history of her property.
Eilish was not the only star to target immigration enforcement during the broadcast. Singer Bad Bunny also called to "ICE out" the agency while accepting his award. He told the audience, "We’re not savage... we are humans, and we are Americans."
The backlash against Eilish centers on what critics call a "luxury belief." Many social media users argued that if she truly believed the land was stolen, she should return her property. Eilish has not yet responded to the tribe's statement or the online criticism.