Mark Ruffalo Spearheads Celebrity Outrage at Kevin O’Leary Following His Attack on Billie Eilish’s Anti-ICE Grammy Remarks

Billionaire advised entertainers in music and film to “keep quiet and just perform” after Eilish used her Grammy win speech to criticize ICE Kevin O’Leary is drawing sharp criticism from prominent celebrities, led by Mark Ruffalo, for comments he directed at Billie Eilish’s vocal opposition to ICE. At Sunday’s Grammy Awards, the 24-year-old singer used her Song of the Year acceptance moment to call on supporters to “keep resisting, keep raising your voices, keep protesting.” “No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish stated firmly. “F*** ICE.” Several days afterward, the Shark Tank investor, 71, appeared on Fox News’ America Reports, slamming performers who turn their platforms political. “Half the audience you alienate politically will stop buying your albums,” O’Leary remarked. “First rule for any celebrity: as your fame grows—whether you’re an actor, musician, or anything else—zip your lips and focus on entertaining.” Ruffalo, a committed progressive, quickly came to Eilish’s defense against O’Leary’s remarks, telling the businessman, “Why don’t you STFU?” “It’s laughable,” the 58-year-old Avengers actor posted on Threads. “You’ll appear on any program and trash-talk endlessly, smugly expecting everyone to hang on your words, yet you attack a genuine artist whose impact you could never touch for simply saying something that connects with hundreds of millions globally.”

He continued: “The hypocrisy Kevin O’Leary operates under is mind-boggling. You really nailed the arrogant tycoon role in Marty Supreme.” O’Leary, the Canadian business figure and Trump supporter, made his acting debut in Josh Safdie’s Oscar-nominated sports film, portraying the pompous stationery magnate Milton Rockwell. The Independent has reached out to O’Leary’s representative for a response. Ruffalo’s post drew widespread backing from fans and fellow celebrities, including comedian Kathy Griffin, who replied: “Mark, don’t stop. We’re so thankful for your stand. Keep being vocal.” The Marvel star isn’t alone in supporting Eilish. Her brother, 28-year-old singer-songwriter Finneas, also pushed back against the conservative criticism aimed at her. “Watching a bunch of powerful older white men lose it over what my 24-year-old sister said in her acceptance speech,” Finneas wrote on his Instagram Story. “We can literally see your names listed in the Epstein documents.” Eilish, who took home Song of the Year for “Wildflower” from her 2024 Grammy-nominated album Hit Me Hard and Soft, delivered a pointed statement about the Trump administration’s ongoing ICE policies during her speech. “I feel so grateful every time I’m in this space,” she said. “And as thankful as I am, I don’t really feel the need to speak, but no one is illegal on stolen land… It’s tough right now to know exactly what to say or do, and yet I feel real hope in this room.” She had earlier called attention to other celebrities staying quiet about the deaths of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of DHS officers. “Hey fellow celebrities, are you going to speak out?” Eilish asked in a January Instagram Story post.