The Native American tribe whose ancestral territory includes the land beneath Billie Eilish’s Los Angeles home has issued a response following remarks the singer made about “stolen land” during her Grammy Awards speech.
Eilish, 24, won Song of the Year for Wildflower on February 1. While accepting the award with her brother and collaborator Finneas, she used the moment to criticize immigration enforcement and ICE, saying she didn’t feel the need to say much beyond, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and adding a blunt condemnation of ICE.
Her statement, which referenced the history of colonization in North America, drew mixed reactions online. Supporters applauded her comments, while critics accused her of hypocrisy, pointing out that her multi-million-dollar Los Angeles mansion is located on land historically inhabited by the Tongva people.
In a statement to The Daily Mail, a spokesperson for the Tongva tribe said they appreciated the chance to clarify their position. They acknowledged that Eilish’s home is indeed on their ancestral land and noted that she has not personally reached out to the tribe regarding her property. However, they expressed gratitude when well-known figures bring attention to the true history of the United States.
The tribe also shared that they had contacted Eilish’s team to thank her for her comments and stressed the importance of specifically naming the Gabrieleno Tongva people when discussing Indigenous land in the Los Angeles region. They said this would help the public understand that the area remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory.
As the story gained traction, some critics began calling on Eilish to give the property back to the tribe or to use her home to house migrants, given her public stance. Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty suggested on X that she should return the mansion or host undocumented immigrants if she truly believed in her position.
Other conservative figures echoed similar criticisms. Senator Mike Lee argued that anyone who publicly acknowledges “stolen land” should relinquish their property, while Minnesota state representative Walter Hudson questioned why people who make such claims don’t act on them by giving up their possessions.
Additional commentary ranged from sarcasm to outright ridicule. Critics mocked Eilish for voicing strong opinions while living in a gated, luxury estate. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dismissed her remarks as recycled rhetoric and suggested she should forfeit her mansion if she truly believed the land was stolen. Elon Musk responded to one such comment with a brief show of agreement.
Eilish has been outspoken in her opposition to ICE for years, previously accusing the agency of violent actions against immigrants. Her Grammy speech reinforced that stance amid renewed national debate over immigration enforcement and recent high-profile ICE operations, including incidents in Minneapolis that reportedly resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti.