Billie Eilish has drawn criticism from the Tongva Tribe after calling out “stolen land” during her Grammys acceptance speech.
The Native American group claims her Los Angeles mansion sits on their ancestral territory and urges more precise recognition of their history.
On Sunday, February 1, the Bad Guy singer used her Grammys acceptance speech to criticize U.S. immigration policies and ICE, declaring, “no one is illegal on stolen land.”
While many applauded her for highlighting Indigenous issues, the Tongva Tribe said the comments lacked specificity regarding their own ancestral lands in the Los Angeles Basin.
Tongva Tribe responds
The Tongva, also known as the Gabrieleno Tongva, are the Indigenous people of the greater Los Angeles area.
A tribe spokesperson told the Daily Mail, “Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when public figures provide visibility to the true history of this country.”
Billie Eilish calls America "stolen land"
— Pankaj (@Pankaj41627) February 2, 2026
Ok, Billie. Your $14,000,000 mansion in LA is built where the Tongva tribes once lived. Any plans on returning it?.?pic.twitter.com/Q6eqIWgxoq
They stressed the importance of naming the tribe in public discussions to ensure recognition of their ancestral lands and cultural heritage.
Property built on ancestral land
According to reports from WIBC 93.1FM, Billie Eilish’s multimillion-dollar Los Angeles mansion is located on land that the Tongva consider part of their ancestral territory.
The tribe acknowledged the singer’s intentions but encouraged celebrities to reach out directly and explicitly reference Indigenous communities when addressing historical land issues.
The Tongva spokesperson added, “We hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles Basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory.”
Their message underscores a growing movement urging public figures to be accurate and respectful when addressing Indigenous history in the U.S.
