Celebrities took a highly public stand against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards. Reportedly, at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, several Hollywood figures, including Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, Natasha Lyonne, Jean Smart, and Ariana Grande, were seen wearing black-and-white pins reading “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” on the red carpet and inside the venue.
The display followed a deadly incident earlier in January 2026. Renee Nicole Good, 37, was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a federal immigration enforcement operation.
READ: ICE continues to terrorize Minnesota citizens after murder of Renee Good (January 14, 2026)
Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, was sitting in her SUV when an ICE agent approached and attempted to engage her. Body-worn and bystander videos reportedly show a tense confrontation in which Good’s vehicle moves as agents are near it, and the agent then fires multiple shots, killing her. Federal officials, including the Department of Homeland Security, said the officer acted in self-defense, alleging Good “weaponized” her vehicle. Critics and local leaders dispute that account, arguing that the video evidence does not clearly show an imminent threat. The shooter has been identified as ICE agent Jonathan Ross, according to media reports and court filings. The U.S. Justice Department declined to open a civil-rights probe, a decision that has drawn criticism and resignations by some federal prosecutors, and sparked national debate over use of force and federal accountability.
Reportedly, the slogans on the pins, “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT”. were tied to the #BeGood campaign, supported by advocacy organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), MoveOn, Working Families Power, and others.
What might once have been viewed as a purely entertainment-focused event appeared to become, at least in part, a platform for public figures to amplify concerns over federal policy and accountability. Whether through wardrobe choices, symbolic accessories, or spoken remarks, such visible gestures can shape how audiences interpret both the awards ceremony and the political debates surrounding it.
The moment reflects a broader trend in which cultural spaces are increasingly used to signal solidarity with affected communities and to draw attention to policies that generate national controversy. It underscores how questions of justice, governance, and human rights are not confined to legislative halls or protest streets, but also enter public conversation through media and popular culture. While opinions vary widely on the appropriateness of political statements at entertainment events, the choice by prominent entertainers to engage on the issue highlights the intensity of public concern and the power of high-profile platforms to shape discourse.
The significance of the gesture may extend beyond awards season. It illustrates how public attention, media expression, and political critique can converge in widely watched cultural moments, influencing how national narratives are constructed, contested, and remembered. The long-term impact of such symbolic acts on policy debates or public opinion remains uncertain, but the incident shows how entertainment platforms can amplify social and political issues far beyond the ceremony itself.
Moments like this highlight the growing intersection between culture, activism, and public awareness, reflecting how societal debates are increasingly shaped not only by policymakers and traditional media, but also by visible acts within popular and entertainment spaces.