Celebrities turned the Golden Globes red carpet into a platform for protest on January 11, donning white pins reading “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” to honor Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis mother fatally shot by federal agents four days earlier. The display highlighted rising tensions over immigration enforcement amid a surge in ICE-related deaths.
A Week of Tragedy
Renee Nicole Good died on January 7 in Minneapolis, marking her as the ninth person shot by ICE officers since September 2025, per advocacy groups. On New Year’s Eve, Keith Porter was killed by an off-duty ICE agent in Los Angeles. These incidents unfolded against the Trump administration’s ramped-up immigration efforts, including a $100 million recruitment drive to bolster ICE ranks. Hollywood figures seized the awards show to spotlight what they saw as unchecked federal force.
Details of Good’s death sparked immediate controversy. The Department of Homeland Security claimed she tried to run over agents, but video analysts and local officials challenged that account. An independent autopsy, released January 21 by her family, documented gunshot wounds to her forearm, breast, and head. Footage captured ICE agent Jonathan Ross standing as her vehicle passed, undercutting self-defense claims. Good’s attorneys pointed to the video as evidence contradicting the official story, fueling demands for greater transparency.
The #BeGood campaign, organized by the ACLU, MoveOn, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and entertainment leaders, supplied the pins ahead of the event. Social media drives and protests nationwide built momentum, offering stars a unified, broadcast-friendly way to signal dissent. This coordination shifted individual outrage into a sector-wide statement, leveraging the industry’s visibility.
Ruffalo’s Red Carpet Statement
Actor Mark Ruffalo spoke bluntly to USA Today on the carpet: “This is for Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered.” He likened ICE agents to “literal stormtroopers” and criticized Trump policies, adding, “The only thing that matters to him is his own morality.” He warned, “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.” His words stood out as the night’s sharpest political critique.
Comedian Wanda Sykes urged action in a Variety interview: “We need to be out there and shut this rogue government down, because it’s just awful what they’re doing to people.” Her language evoked fears of executive overreach. Sykes later presented an award without further comment, balancing visibility with restraint.
Jean Smart’s Strategic Restraint
Jean Smart, accepting Best Actress in a TV Comedy for HBO’s Hacks, addressed the climate on the carpet: “Everything’s kind of overshadowed by everything that’s going on right now.” In her speech, she said, “Let’s all do the right thing. Everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing is.” She framed her stance as a citizen and mother, sidestepping direct attacks amid backlash against celebrity activism.
Natasha Lyonne, Tessa Thompson, Bella Ramsey, and Ariana Grande also wore pins, spanning generations and underscoring broad support. Backed by civil rights groups, the effort positioned the protest as structured advocacy, not solo gestures.
The Broadcast Moment
The ceremony drew 8.66 million live and same-day viewers on CBS and Paramount+, down 7% from the year before but topping other awards shows. Social interactions hit 43 million, up 5%. Red carpet activism led coverage, while the stage stayed apolitical.
The pins drew attention to 2025 as ICE’s deadliest year in two decades, with Good’s case exemplifying escalation in immigrant communities. Minneapolis, with the nation’s largest Somali population, faced heightened raids.
Not every attendee joined in, hinting at divisions or caution over alienating audiences. Grassroots efforts drove the pins, not studios, preserving an organic feel but curbing institutional weight.
Legal and Political Fallout
Trump called the death a “tragedy” on January 20, noting Good’s father’s reported support for him—a shift from early framing. Agent Ross was briefly hospitalized. No charges followed, intensifying calls for accountability.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Debates
The action fed national discussions on ICE tactics. Advocates hailed it as proof of public unease; detractors saw celebrity overreach. The pins’ neutral design invited dialogue without alienating.
Precedent for Future Awards
The coordinated push set a model for awards activism on issues like rights and labor, showing coalitions could harness platforms sans backlash.
As scrutiny lingers, the Globes protest raises questions about translating visibility into reform. Whether it sparks policy shifts or fades remains unclear, but it underscored Hollywood’s role in amplifying immigrant community struggles amid ongoing enforcement debates.
Sources
USA Today, January 11, 2026
Harper’s Bazaar, January 11, 2026
Global News, January 11, 2026
Variety, January 11, 2026
Cosmopolitan, January 11, 2026
The Fader, January 12, 2026