During her Tokyo Dome show on January 28, Lady Gaga brought the concert to a sudden halt for a reason no one in the crowd expected.
Sitting at her piano, the pop icon paused the setlist to address the escalating immigration enforcement crisis unfolding back home in the United States. She delivered a raw speech , condemning ICE and expressing solidarity with communities living in fear.
- Lady Gaga halted her Tokyo Dome concert mid-show to deliver a raw and emotional speech condemning the current ICE enforcement crisis in the U.S.
- The pop icon specifically referenced the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
- Despite performing in Japan, Gaga stressed that the struggle for safety and dignity transcends borders.
- Gaga joined a growing list of stars, including Bruce Springsteen and Natalie Portman, who are using their platforms to protest what some have called “state terror.”
“I’m thinking about all of their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right in front of us,” she said during The Mayhem Ball concert.
Lady Gaga paused her Tokyo show to address ICE violence in America
Lady Gaga close-up portrait wearing black outfit with long straight hair, known for bold ICE speech at concert event.
Lady Gaga performing on stage in a dramatic outfit, delivering a bold ICE speech during a concert.
“I want to take a second to talk about something significant to me,” the 39-year-old told the crowd, as her tone shifted the mood of the room instantly.
She noted that she would soon be returning to the U.S., and the thought of what awaited her there had been weighing heavily on her.
“In a couple of days, I’m gonna be heading home, and my heart is aching thinking about the people — the children, the families — all over America who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE ,” she said.
Twitter post showing a user commenting on Lady Gaga halting a concert to deliver a bold ICE speech.
Lady Gaga in dramatic black outfit and glove raising hand during concert delivering bold ICE speech on stage.
“I’m thinking about all of their pain and how their lives are being destroyed right in front of us.”
Though the concert was taking place in Japan, Gaga stressed that the moment transcended borders.
“I know we’re not in America right now,” she added, “but we are with our community, and we love you.”
Gaga’s speech came following the fatal encounter of Alex Pretti and Renee Good with ICE
Lady Gaga performing on stage with guitar and dancers in dark outfits during bold ICE speech at her concert.
Tweet from user KUBVM316 replying to gagadaily, stating support for Lady Gaga speaking out during her concert about ICE issues.
Tweet criticizing Japan’s prime minister on mass deportations, with a reply to Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during concert.
During her speech, Gaga referenced Minnesota , where two fatal encounters involving ICE agents have sparked national outrage and ongoing investigations.
“When entire communities lose their sense of safety and belonging, it breaks something in all of us,” Gaga said, directly addressing the “fear” in Minnesota. “ People are searching for answers on what we all should do.”
Police officer in tactical gear and face covering outside near houses and snow, related to bold ICE speech incident.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally sh*t by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 24 during an immigration enforcement operation.
His passing came less than three weeks after Renee Nicole Good , a 37-year-old mother of three, was sh*t by ICE during a separate operation in the same city.
While federal authorities claimed agents acted in self-defense, bystander footage and independent analysis have raised serious questions about those narratives.
Gaga dedicatedCome to Mamato those grieving and called for accountability
ICE officers escorting a young man in a white shirt during an enforcement operation in a snowy residential area.
Social media comment discussing Lady Gaga halting concert to deliver bold ICE speech outside the US.
Following her speech, Gaga dedicated a performance of Come to Mama from her 2016 album Joanne to those impacted by the violence.
“I’d like to dedicate this song to everyone who is suffering, to everyone who’s feeling alone and helpless,” she said. “Anyone who’s lost a loved one and is having a difficult time — an impossible time — seeing when the end will be near.”
Lady Gaga performing at piano during concert, delivering bold ICE speech that surprised the audience unexpectedly.
Tweet by user My Name Is James reacting to Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during a concert, emphasizing her genuine activism online.
Tweet screenshot showing a user commenting on Lady Gaga halting concert to deliver a bold ICE speech during a Japan show.
She further issued a direct appeal to national leadership, calling for an immediate return to safety and accountability.
Gaga argued that “good people shouldn’t have to fight so hard and risk their lives for well-being and respect.”
She urged those in power to heed the public’s pleas and shift toward a more compassionate course of action.
A group of people wearing tactical gear arresting a person on the street, related to ICE enforcement action.
Tweet by Simsar replying to PopCrave about music saying something real, related to Lady Gaga bold ICE speech at concert.
“I hope our leaders are listening. I hope you’re listening to us asking you to change your course of action swiftly and have mercy on everyone in our country,” she stated.
Gaga shared that she wanted to leave the audience with hope.
“At a time where it doesn’t feel like it’s easy to have hope, it is my community — my friends, my family — that hold me up. So, I would like to sing a song that does have some hope in it, to try to give us a little bit tonight,” she said, before beginning the song.
Besides Gaga, several other celebrities pushed back against ICE, including Bruce Springsteen and Natalie Portman
Two people on a snowy street with one person restraining another, related to a bold ICE speech incident.
Gaga’s speech comes amid growing opposition from high-profile celebrities to ICE’s actions.
Bruce Springsteen recently released a protest song titled Streets of Minneapolis, explicitly naming Alex Pretti and Renee Good and condemning what he called “state terror”.
Lady Gaga performing at concert, wearing headset microphone and playing piano during bold ICE speech.
Lady Gaga condemns ICE in heartfelt speech at the MAYHEM Ball in Tokyo tonight: “I want to take a second to talk about something that’s extremely important to me. Something important to people all over the world and especially in America right now. In a couple of days, I’m gonna… pic.twitter.com/UmfXmZIKPy — Gaga Daily (@gagadaily) January 29, 2026
Billie Eilish , Olivia Rodrigo, Natalie Portman, Zoey Deutch, Edward Norton, and Olivia Wilde have also spoken out in recent weeks, using awards stages, film festivals, and social media to voice their outrage.
At Sundance , celebrities wore “ICE Out” pins. Portman described the agency’s actions as “the worst of the worst of humanity.”
Norton also echoed the fury, warning that “an illegal army is being mounted against U.S. citizens.”
“Mother always keeping it real,” wrote one netizen praising Gaga’s speech
Tweet about mixed reactions to Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during concert, mentioning celebrity activism and security concerns.
Tweet discussing Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during concert with mixed audience reactions and political context.
Tweet replying to a Lady Gaga fan account referencing a bold ICE speech during her concert, urging to take notes from Nicki.
Screenshot of a social media reply praising Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during her concert performance.
Tweet criticizing Lady Gaga halting concert in Tokyo to deliver bold ICE speech about America’s issues during performance.
Social media reply questioning Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during concert and its impact on American politics abroad.
Tweet screenshot from david praising Lady Gaga, highlighting her bold ICE speech and authenticity during concert moment.
Screenshot of a social media post praising Lady Gaga for delivering a bold ICE speech during her concert.
Screenshot of a social media reply discussing Lady Gaga halting concert to deliver a bold ICE speech on immigration.
Twitter user pop culture gal praising Lady Gaga for her bold ICE speech during a concert with strong support.
User tweet praising Lady Gaga’s bold ICE speech during concert, showing respect for her platform use.
Tweet from user AJ reacting to Lady Gaga halting concert to deliver bold ICE speech, expressing confusion about Japan’s connection.
Thanks! Check out the results:
Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!
Follow Bored Panda on Google News!
Unlock an Enhanced Experience with Bored Panda Premium
Go ad-free, access unlimited content, and enjoy our sleek dark mode. Your favorite stories, uninterrupted.
No fees, cancel anytime
Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge’s Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations
