Summary:
-
Billie Eilish criticizes immigration enforcement and lack of focus on civil rights and climate protections at MLK Jr. awards.
-
Eilish accepts MLK Jr. Beloved Community Environmental Justice Award, speaking out against various social and environmental injustices.
-
The event also honored Viola Davis with the Coretta Scott King Soul of the Nation Award in Atlanta.
Billie Eilish used her acceptance speech at the 2026 MLK Jr. Beloved Community Awards to condemn immigration enforcement actions and argue that civil rights and climate protections are being sidelined, comments that spread quickly online after the event.
Eilish accepted the MLK Jr. Beloved Community Environmental Justice Award during the King Center’s King Holiday observance at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 17.
In her acceptance remarks, Eilish said :
“We’re seeing our neighbors being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped.”
She continued:
“Resources to fight the climate crisis being cut, fossil fuels and animal agriculture destroying our planet and people’s health, access to food and health care becoming a privilege for the wealthy, instead of a basic human right for all Americans.”
Eilish also criticized federal priorities directly:
ADVERTISEMENT
“It is very clear that protecting our planet and our communities are not a priority for this administration. And it’s really hard to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our own homes or in our streets.”
The awards ceremony, hosted annually in Atlanta, also honored Viola Davis with the Coretta Scott King Soul of the Nation Award, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
