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By Gabe Whisnant
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Conservative commentator Emily Austin pushed back Monday against criticism she received after posting a viral video reacting during the Grammy Awards to remarks from Billie Eilish that condemned U.S. immigration enforcement.
Austin wrote on X, "Despite all the hate I got, I love America. Even Bad Bunny’s Grammy speech honored the dream of those who had to leave their homes to succeed — IN AMERICA."
She continued, "This country is a place of opportunity — and it wouldn’t be what it is without our law enforcement who protect our freedoms."
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Austin, a podcaster, sports journalist and social media personality, filmed herself watching Eilish’s acceptance speech at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles and shared the clip online. The video shows Austin responding with visible disbelief as the pop star used the moment to urge activism and protest around immigration issues, drawing cheers from parts of the audience inside the arena.
The video spread rapidly across social media, amassing millions of views within hours and sparking a divided reaction. Supporters praised Austin for pushing back against what they saw as politicizing an awards show, while critics accused her of mocking the singer’s message.
Austin, 24, has previously courted attention for her outspoken conservative positions. Last year, she launched a new campaign ahead of the New York City mayoral election, "Hot Girls for Cuomo," a coalition of "hot" women who supported former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bid in the race against democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani.
She has described herself as “conservative as it gets” in a recent YouTube video. She has been pictured with Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Austin is Jewish and was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Israeli parents and grew up in Long Island. She is also the founder of a beauty brand and a pageant judge.
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Trump Reacts After Grammys Joke
Trevor Noah again worked the room during his opening monologue at the Grammy Awards, ribbing artists seated near him and drawing bigger laughs by targeting high‑profile absentees — including a joke that later prompted a sharp response from President Donald Trump.
“Nicki Minaj is not here,” Noah said to cheers from the audience at Crypto.com Arena. “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.”
Minaj recently visited the White House and publicly praised Trump, part of a shift toward the MAGA movement she has embraced in recent months.
Noah followed with a mock Trump impression. “Actually, Nicki, I have the biggest ass. Everybody’s saying it, Nicki,” he said.
In his sixth time hosting the Grammys — and what Noah has said will be his last — the comedian largely avoided politics during his opening monologue. He did not reference U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite some attendees wearing “ICE OUT” buttons.
Later in the broadcast, however, Noah turned more pointed after Billie Eilish won Song of the Year.
“That is a Grammy that every artist wants,” Noah said, “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” before adding a joke referencing Epstein’s private island and former President Bill Clinton.
Trump responded after the show with a post on Truth Social, calling the remark false and defamatory.
“Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!” Trump wrote, adding that he had never been there and had never been accused of visiting the island. He also threatened legal action against Noah.
At another point in the ceremony, Noah joked about Trump’s history of legal disputes, saying the Grammys were airing “completely live” because “if we edited any of the show, the president would sue CBS for $16 billion,” a reference to Trump’s recent clashes with the network and its parent company.
The president called Noah a "lightweight" and a "lousy host" during remarks to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.
Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish Declare ‘ICE Out’ on Grammys
Eilish used her Song of the Year win for “Wildflower” to join a wave of musicians speaking out against U.S. immigration authorities during Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said while accepting the award for the song from her 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft. “F*** ICE is all I want to say.”
Immigration emerged as a recurring theme throughout the ceremony, broadcast live by CBS. Several artists used acceptance speeches to highlight immigrant experiences and criticize immigration enforcement policies.
Bad Bunny delivered one of the most prominent moments earlier in the night after winning the Grammy for música urbana album. Switching briefly to English, he addressed the crowd to applause.
“Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out,” he said. “We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
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Before Bad Bunny’s remarks, Olivia Dean was named best new artist. Fighting back tears, she reflected on her family’s background as she accepted the award.
“I never really imagined that I would be up here,” she said. “I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be here … I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Similar messages echoed earlier in the day during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of the awards are presented. There, artists were just as explicit in addressing immigration and ICE.
Shaboozey, who won for country duo/group performance, grew emotional while thanking his family.
“I want to thank my mother, who as of today, has retired from her job of 30 years … working as a registered nurse in a psych ward … as an immigrant in this country,” he said. “Immigrants built this country, literally, actually. So, this for them.”
Kehlani, after winning her first Grammy, closed her speech with a blunt message, saying, “Imma leave this and say, f*** ICE.”
Backstage, music icon Gloria Estefan said the political moment weighed heavily on her.
“I’m scared,” she said. “There are hundreds of children in detention centers. … I don’t recognize my country in this moment right now.”
Updates: 2/2/26, 1:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 2/2/26, 6:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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