Kehlani Uses Grammy Win to Condemn ICE, Calls on Artists to Speak Out

R&B singer Kehlani won her first Grammy Awards on Sunday night, taking home two awards for her single "Folded," and used the moment to deliver a sharp condemnation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The 30-year-old artist made the statement both on the red carpet and during her acceptance speech, drawing attention to recent deaths of unarmed citizens at the hands of ICE agents.

Kehlani arrived at the Grammy Awards wearing an "ICE Out" pin, one of several artists who chose the accessory to show solidarity with anti-ICE protests happening across the country. The artist said she wanted to make a stronger statement than the pin allowed, and later made good on that intention when accepting her awards.

Background

Kehlani's success with "Folded" marks a significant milestone in a career that has spanned more than a decade. The Oakland-based musician first received Grammy recognition ten years ago, but has never won until now. The single became the artist's first top 10 record on the Hot 100 chart and has gained support from major R&B figures including Brandy, Mario, Toni Braxton, and Tank, who all contributed remixes to the "Folded Homage Pack."

The artist's journey to this moment began in 2009 when they performed as part of Pop Lyfe, a group that competed on the sixth season of "America's Got Talent" and finished in fourth place. Over the years, Kehlani built a following with the album "After Hours" and other releases, but "Folded" represents their breakthrough moment on the mainstream charts.

Key Details

Kehlani won both Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for "Folded" at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles. During her time on the red carpet before the ceremony, the artist spoke about wanting to make a statement at the event.

"I really wanted to say 'F**k ICE,' but I think they needed some couth on the carpet or something. I'm a little couth-less ruthless. But I think we're too powerful a group to all be in a room at the same time and not make some kind of statement in our country. It's brainless to me."

When accepting her award on stage, Kehlani delivered on that promise. The artist called for unity among the performers and industry figures in the room, framing the moment as an opportunity to address larger issues facing the country.

"Everyone is so powerful in this room. Together, we're stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now. Instead of letting it be just a few here and there, I hope everybody is inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what's going on. And I'mma leave this and say, 'F**k ICE.'"

The artist's statement came in the context of recent events in Minneapolis, where two unarmed citizens were killed by ICE agents within weeks of each other in January. These deaths sparked protests and calls for accountability across the country.

The Broader Movement

Kehlani was not alone in using the Grammy Awards as a platform for activism. Several other artists also wore the "ICE Out" pins to the ceremony, signaling a coordinated effort by members of the music community to draw attention to the issue. The artist emphasized the responsibility that comes with having a platform and audience.

During a longer discussion about the role of artists in society, Kehlani spoke about how musicians and performers can influence public understanding of important issues. The artist noted that artists are watched closely by people around the world and have an opportunity to use that attention wisely.

What This Means

Kehlani's Grammy moment represents a shift in how some artists are using major industry events to address political and social concerns. Rather than keeping acceptance speeches focused purely on thanking collaborators and team members, the artist chose to use the platform to call attention to what they view as systemic injustice.

The statement also highlights the willingness of established artists to take direct action and use explicit language to make their point. By refusing to soften the message for the cameras and the live audience, Kehlani made clear that the issue was serious enough to warrant unfiltered language.

For Kehlani personally, the Grammy wins validate years of work in the music industry. The artist's breakthrough with "Folded" came after a decade of pursuing music professionally, suggesting that persistence in the industry can eventually lead to major recognition. The wins also position Kehlani as a voice in the R&B community, potentially opening doors for future collaborations and projects.

The artist's call for other performers to join in speaking out suggests that Kehlani sees the music community as having a collective responsibility to address injustice. Whether other artists will heed that call remains to be seen, but the moment captured attention at one of the music industry's biggest events.