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Shakira is catching heat after a clip from her June BBC interview resurfaced, with critics accusing her of being ungrateful toward the United States. In the interview, the Colombian superstar opened up about her experiences as an immigrant in America. “An immigrant in the US means living in constant fear. And it’s painful to see. I just hope that they can be treated and that we all can be treated under principles of equity and freedom,” she said at the time. “Those same principles that shaped this nation, and so many other big, powerful nations in the world have been shaped by the hard work of immigrants. What I fear the most is that this country, as well as many other countries that have issues with immigration, find a human solution to those issues.”
While her words struck a chord with some fans, others quickly pushed back online. One repost of the interview went viral, paired with the caption, “She has a net worth of around $400 million. If things are that bad then LEAVE. [expletive] of my country or sit down & [expletive].” Another critic echoed the sentiment, writing, “Living in America is a choice, not a sentence. If someone with $400M still claims ‘constant fear,’ maybe the problem isn’t the country, it’s their attitude. Millions of immigrants come here with nothing and thrive without complaining. Gratitude builds nations. Entitlement tears them down.”
Shakira Faces Backlash Over Immigration Remarks
The comments didn’t end there. Another X user chimed in with, “She doesn’t leave because she knows she can say these things and won’t face any real consequences … She is also displaying her privilege, because she can afford to be isolated from her ‘fear’ in her own little enclave.” Someone else expressed, “This is ignorance at its highest level. If you’re a legal immigrant like I am, you don’t live in constant fear; you don’t live in fear at all. Now, if you’re an illegal, then you should live in fear. Most of these ignorant celebrities and far-left liberals always leave the word illegal out.”
Shakira’s resurfaced remarks come as immigration crackdowns intensify across the country. In recent weeks, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have become a major flashpoint in U.S. politics. Mass protests erupted in Los Angeles in early June after ICE officials conducted raids across the city, often while wearing face coverings and without identifying insignia.
The Trump administration responded by deploying thousands of California National Guard members and 700 active-duty Marines, moves that drew fierce criticism from local and state officials. The surge followed a directive from Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordering ICE to arrest up to 3,000 immigrants per day, a more than fourfold increase from previous averages.
ICE To Be Present At Super Bowl
And the crackdown isn’t stopping at neighborhoods and workplaces, but it’s now moving into high-profile cultural spaces. More recently, Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski announced that ICE agents will be present at Super Bowl LX and Bad Bunny’s halftime show. “There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally,” Lewandowski said, calling it “shameful” that the Puerto Rican rapper was chosen to headline the halftime performance.
The announcement carries added weight given Bad Bunny’s past concerns. The reggaeton superstar previously avoided U.S. tours out of fear that ICE might target his concerts, a move that highlighted how political tensions can spill into entertainment.
