Billie Eilish criticizes ICE and Trump while accepting MLK Jr. Award

A little over a week after the Department of Homeland Security publicly lambasted its “trash rhetoric” for anti-ICE posts shared via Instagram Stories, Billie Eilish graciously received the 2026 MLK Jr. Beloved Community Environmental Justice Award presented by the King Center on Saturday, January 17 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta. Eilish’s philanthropy became more recognized in October when her plan to donate $11.5 million to groups working on climate justice, carbon pollution reduction and food equity through the sold-out Changemaker program. Hit me hard and soft the tour has been revealed. His challenge to the billionaire participants of The Wall Street Journal Magazine Even bigger was the 2025 Innovators Awards, including the world’s third richest man, Mark Zuckerberg, to “give your money away.”

Extremely humble, Eilish was introduced by Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru and expressed both gratitude and disappointment with the current state of affairs. “To be honest, I really don’t feel deserving,” Eilish said. “And it’s very strange to be celebrated for working for environmental justice at a time when it seems less achievable than ever given the current state of our country and the world. We see our neighbors being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped away, resources meant to combat the climate crisis being cut off for fossil fuels and animal agriculture destroying our planet, and people’s access to food and health care becoming a privilege for the wealthy instead of a new basic human right for all Americans It is very clear that protecting our planet and our communities is not a priority for this administration and it is really difficult to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our homes or on our streets,” she read from a small piece of paper.

Justice for Migrant Women founder and social justice recipient Mónica A. Ramìrez validated Eilish’s fears by sharing the fear that ICE had unleashed on her Latino community. She also shared how bold she thought it was to be recognized. “I understand that part of the fact that I received this recognition today is a testament to the courage of Dr. Bernice King and the King Center to give a platform to someone like me and my organization at this time,” she said.

Other EGOT honorees included Viola Davis, former Atlanta Falcons star Warrick Dunn and Gloria James for the LeBron James Family Foundation, with Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage, former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Beyond the doors star Sean Freeman also presents. Iconic Sesame Street Star Sonia Manzano presented the Christine King Farris Legacy of Service in Education Award to her own Sesame Workshop. Chance the Rapper was one of many musical artists.

Bernice King, CEO of the King Center and daughter of Dr. King, called the gathering of about 1,000 people “a celebration of humanity at its best.” She also proclaimed that this year’s MLK theme “Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation Nonviolently” was “more than appropriate” because “it’s a mandate for now.”

Eilish admitted to feeling more optimistic thanks to the energy of the evening. “I’m so inspired by all of the stories and by the other honorees tonight and by everyone in this room, and I’m grateful to everyone and to the huge community of people who are taking action focused on Dr. King’s message. I just want to thank my mother, both of my parents, for raising me the way they did. I wouldn’t do any of this without you, Mom,” she said, acknowledging her mother’s presence. “I have this platform and I feel like it’s my responsibility to use it, so I feel like I’m just doing what anyone in my position should be doing.”

The awards ceremony, co-hosted by Tony Winner and The Princess and the Frog star Anika Noni Rose and Cross star Aldis Hodge, which aired on BET in February.