Overview
- Presenting an award, actress Natasha Rothwell went off-script to say “Fuck ICE,” drawing applause from the Spirit Awards audience.
- Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon, Tessa Thompson and Lake Bell were among attendees wearing “ICE Out” pins in a coordinated show of dissent.
- The 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards were held Sunday at the Hollywood Palladium and hosted by Ego Nwodim.
- Acceptance speeches extended the activism as filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir spoke about “manufactured fear” and “weaponized racism,” and Esta Isla’s directors urged elevating marginalized voices.
- The demonstrations built on awards-season activism that included Grammy remarks by Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean, as Rothwell’s comment also drew online criticism from social-media opponents.