Mark Ruffalo defended Billie Eilish after she was criticized by Kevin O’Leary for her anti-ICE remarks during the Grammys. The actor used Threads on Thursday to challenge O’Leary’s dismissive comments directed at Eilish’s political statements made at Sunday’s awards ceremony.
Details of the Online Exchange
Kevin O’Leary had told Billie Eilish to
shut your mouth and just entertain
after she said
no one is illegal on stolen land
and exclaimed F–k ICE during her acceptance speech. In response, Ruffalo wrote:
Kevin O’Leary why don’t you STFU,
adding,
It’s hilarious. You will go on any show and talk s–t about any number of things and smugly expect us to listen to you, but you will dig into a real artist that dwarfs anything you dream of doing for actually saying something that resonates with 100s of millions of people the world over.
He further criticized O’Leary with:
It’s astounding the fantasy double standard Kevin O’Leary lives in. You played yourself well in ‘Marty Supreme.’
Support from Billie Eilish’s Brother and Other Celebrities
Ruffalo was not alone in standing up for Eilish. Her brother and producer, Finneas O’Connell, also addressed the backlash on Threads, remarking,
Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said during her acceptance speech,
before alleging,
We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.
Billie Eilish was among several artists speaking against ICE at the Grammys. Bad Bunny, Olivia Dean, and Kehlani also made political statements targeting the federal agency, which has faced criticism following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Other stars, including Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Bon Iver, Jack Antonoff, and Lady Gaga, wore ‘ICE Out’ pins on the red carpet to show their opposition.
Impact and Ongoing Debate
The confrontation highlights a growing divide between artists using their platforms to express political views and critics who prefer entertainment to avoid controversy. Mark Ruffalo’s defense of Billie Eilish underscores the support among many public figures for artists willing to engage in social issues, while the criticism from figures like Kevin O’Leary reflects ongoing tension over such expressions in the public sphere.
