Ruffalo Defends Billie Eilish After Kevin O’Leary Tells Her to “Just Entertain”

Actor Mark Ruffalo has come out strongly in support of Billie Eilish after she faced backlash for her political comments at the Grammy Awards.

The controversy started when Eilish used her acceptance speech to speak out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During her remarks, she said, “No one is illegal on stolen land” and ended with a blunt “F–k ICE.” Her comments quickly sparked debate online and on TV.

One of her harshest critics was Kevin O’Leary, who said Eilish should “shut your mouth and just entertain,” suggesting that musicians should stay out of politics.

Ruffalo didn’t stay quiet. Writing on Threads on Thursday, the actor fired back at O’Leary in a sharply worded post. He told O’Leary to “STFU” and accused him of having a double standard. Ruffalo pointed out that O’Leary freely shares his opinions on many platforms, yet attacks a young artist for speaking about issues that matter to her and to millions of fans around the world.

Ruffalo also mocked O’Leary’s attitude, saying it was “astounding” how the TV personality criticizes others while expecting no criticism himself. He even took a jab at O’Leary’s acting work, suggesting the businessman “played himself well” in a recent role.

Eilish’s family also stepped in. Her brother and longtime collaborator Finneas O’Connell posted his own message on Threads, calling out what he described as “very powerful old white men” being angry over what his 24-year-old sister said on stage. His post quickly went viral and added more fuel to the conversation.

Eilish wasn’t alone at the Grammys in speaking out. Several other artists used the night to criticize ICE or show support for the cause. These included Bad Bunny, Olivia Dean, and Kehlani. On the red carpet, stars such as Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Bon Iver, Jack Antonoff, and Lady Gaga wore “ICE Out” pins to show solidarity.

As reactions continue to pour in, the moment has sparked a larger discussion about whether entertainers should use major award shows to speak about politics—and who gets criticized when they do. For many fans, Ruffalo’s message was clear: artists have the right to speak their minds, especially when their words reflect the feelings of people around the world.