Golden Globes stars wear anti-ICE badges – technically better than nothing

On 11 January, Los Angeles played host to the Golden Globe awards. On the red carpet, several celebrities wore pins reading ‘Be Good’ or ‘Ice Out’, in protest against the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting of citizen Renee Good on 7 January.

Wanda Sykes, Mark Ruffalo, Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, and Natasha Lyonne were among the stars who wore the pins. The #BeGood campaign received backing from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which said that it aims to remind people:

to be good to one another in the face of such horror – to be a good citizen, neighbor, friend, ally and human.

However, the sentiment behind the messages is a bit of a damp squib next to the horror of ICE’s deadly rampage across the US.

Golden Globes: ‘Be Good’

Organisations such as the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Working Families Power, Maremoto and Move On likewise supported the campaign, which was also intended to honour LA resident Keith Porter, who was killed by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve.

Social media users quickly picked up on the attendees wearing the pins – and what they were for:

Mark Ruffalo and Wanda Sykes wore “BE GOOD” pins on the Golden Globes red carpet in honor of #ReneeNicoleGood , the Minneapolis mother who was fatally shot by an ICE agent, using their platform to highlight the tragic incident and call for compassion and accountability. pic.twitter.com/8OZBNGbXMI

— Dr Ahmad Rehan Khan (@AhmadRehanKhan) January 12, 2026

Wanda Sykes and Mark Ruffalo are wearing “BE GOOD” pins at the Golden Globes tonight 🤝The pins are an important demonstration of solidarity with Minneapolis, with the family of Renee Good, and with victims of ICE around the country.

— Elwood R. Thompson, M.Ed. (@erttex.bsky.social) 2026-01-12T00:43:11.357Z

Before the ceremony began, actor Mark Ruffalo told USA Today of his pin badge:

This is for Renee Nicole Goode, who was murdered.

He then went on to voice a searing takedown of Donald Trump:

We’re in the middle of a war with Venezuela that we illegally invaded. He’s telling the world that international law doesn’t matter to him. The only thing that matters to him is his own morality, but the guy is a convicted felon; a convicted rapist. […]

He’s a pedophile. He’s the worst human being. If we’re relying on this guy’s morality for the most powerful country in the world, then we’re all in a lot of trouble. […]

So this is for her [Good]. This is for the people in the United States who are terrorized and scared today. I know I’m one of them. I love this country. And what I’m seeing here happening is not America.”

As admirable as Ruffalo’s words may be, it’s a common tactic to condemn something morally reprehensible by saying that it is not representative of the group. But, for anyone paying attention to America’s long reign of tyranny and suppression is, indeed, America. Where else are ICE rampaging, if not America?

Ariana Grande wore an “ICE OUT” pin at the Golden Globes. I hope more celebrities follow suit and do something similar at the Oscars. 🫅 pic.twitter.com/KqELNUPpkZ

— deepica (@deebayleaf) January 12, 2026

‘A lot that could be said’

‘Hacks’ star Jean Smart told Entertainment Tonight before winning her award that:

everything’s kind of overshadowed by everything that’s going on right now in our country.

I feel like we’re kind of at a turning point in this country. I hope people can keep their heads because that’s actually, really the hardest thing, I think, is to keep our heads. It’s going to take a lot of courage and concerns, but I think that’s important.

Smart also explained why she was speaking out:

I know that there are people who find it annoying when actors take opportunities to talk about social and political things, but I’m not here right now speaking as an actor. I’m here speaking as a citizen and a mom, and I hope people understand that.

However, during her acceptance speech itself, Smart seemed less on-point:

There’s just a lot that could be said tonight. I said my rant on the red carpet, so I won’t do it here. But, thank you. Let’s all do the right thing. I think everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing to do is, so let’s do the right thing.

Social media users also picked up on the lack of callouts for Trump and ICE during the acceptance speeches themselves – a platform on which celebrities have previously taken the opportunity to champion their causes:

Nary a Fuck Ice at the Golden Globes yet , disappointing

— Megalulu ♡︎ (@megalu.bsky.social) 2026-01-12T01:50:56.325Z

Can’t a single actor at the Golden Globes address the fact that their country is becoming a Nazi state? Shocking that the horrors of ICE have been ignored.

— Dave Bidini (@davebidini.bsky.social) 2026-01-12T02:19:40.969Z

Likewise, the contrast between the glitz of the Golden Globes and the brutal repression on America’s streets wasn’t missed either:

Disappointed in the banality of the Golden Globes. Not one winner paid tribute to Renee Good, or condemned Trump or ICE, or commented on the grave moment we are in. No consciousness was raised.Presumably because CBS was airing it and nobody wanted to offend the corporate overlord. Pathetic.

— Simeon Pundit (@loudlong.bsky.social) 2026-01-12T06:02:54.887Z

‘We need to speak up’

On the red carpet before the ceremony, comedian and actress Wanda Sykes explained:

Of course this is for the mother who was murdered by an ICE agent.

She went on:

I know people are out marching and all today, and we need to speak up. We need to be out there and shut this rogue government down because it’s just awful what they’re doing to people.

However, while Sykes was talking about the need to speak up, one actor – ‘Veep’ and ‘Thunderbolts’ star Julia Louis-Dreyfus – was out on the streets in protest:

Julia Louis-Dreyfus had a good reason for skipping the Golden Globes tonight… instead she joined the anti-ICE protest march in New York City#GoldenGlobes #NYC #Icebreakers

— Pasquinel 🎉 (Bonne Année) 🎆 (@pasquinel.bsky.social) 2026-01-12T01:43:04.780Z

Over 1,000 events took place as part of the ICE Out For Good campaign across the USA as part of a weekend of action. Deirdre Schifeling, the ACLU’s chief political and advocacy officer, stated:

The shootings in Minneapolis and Portland weren’t the beginning of ICE’s cruelty, but they must be the end. Today, we saw communities across the country gather peacefully to mourn the lives lost at the hands of ICE and to demand accountability. These protests are further proof that public opposition to ICE and this administration’s abuses is growing by the minute. Whether it’s by joining a protest, attending a know your rights training, or demanding that our Congresspeople stop funding these out-of-control agencies, Americans across the country are saying “NO. Not on our watch.”

It’s good to see actors at the Golden Globes wearing badges and speaking up on the red carpet. However, they might consider following Louis-Dreyfus’ example, putting their money where their mouth is, and getting out on the streets to protest.

Featured image via the Canary