The glittering lights of the Tokyo Dome were briefly dimmed on 29 January as pop icon Lady Gaga pivoted from her high-octane performance to deliver a poignant, politically charged address. Amidst her global Mayhem Ball Tour, the singer paused at her piano to condemn the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically highlighting the recent escalations and fatalities in Minnesota.
A Heartfelt Message from Tokyo
Despite being thousands of miles away, the 14-time Grammy winner expressed deep emotional distress regarding the current climate in the United States under the Donald Trump administration. “My heart is aching thinking about the people, the children, the families… who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE,” Gaga told the capacity crowd.
Her comments come at a time of unprecedented civil unrest in Minneapolis, following a month of aggressive ICE operations that have resulted in the deaths of two individuals: Renee Good and Alex Pretti. While the administration maintains that officers acted in self-defence, leaked eyewitness footage has ignited a firestorm of public skepticism and fury.
The Growing Chorus of Dissent
Lady Gaga is far from the only artist using her platform to challenge the current administration’s immigration policies. A wave of Gen Z and millennial icons have voiced similar condemnations, reflecting a unified front within the entertainment industry.
| Artist | Occasion | Key Sentiment |
| Lady Gaga | Tokyo Dome Concert | Called for “swift mercy” and accountability. |
| Billie Eilish | MLK Jr. Award Speech | Described actions as “kidnapping” and “murder.” |
| Olivia Rodrigo | Instagram Statement | Labelled the agency’s actions as “unconscionable.” |
A Busy Fortnight Ahead
Gaga’s activism coincides with a pivotal moment in her career. Following her final show in Tokyo, she is expected to return to the United States for the 2026 Grammy Awards on 1 February. With seven nominations for her chart-topping album MAYHEM and the Joker: Folie à Deux companion piece Harlequin, she remains a dominant force in the industry.
Beyond the Grammys, the singer is also set to feature in a high-profile Super Bowl advertisement for Rocket and Redfin. In a move that mirrors her recent stage comments, she has recorded a cover of Mister Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”—a song she describes as “powerful to revisit” given the current lack of safety and belonging felt by many American communities.
“I hope our leaders are listening,” Gaga concluded her Tokyo address. “Good people shouldn’t have to fight so hard and risk their lives for well-being and respect.”