Raised fist protest selfies, twitter bio hashtags, profile picture paraphernalia. The virtue signal is a staple of modern culture, a need for many. When society becomes increasingly unforgiving of moral faux pas, there is little room for skipping out on the latest advocacy fad. But what happens when celebrities are caught in their own lies? Is it worse to pretend to care or not to care at all?

On the evening of February 6., Los Angeles welcomed a slew of glittering guests for the 2026 Grammys. With the year’s earliest days being fraught with political uncertainty, it is no surprise that many celebrities sought to use the stage as an opportunity to voice their opinions.

Record of the year winner Billie Eilish garnered particular controversy with her statements. During her speech, Eilish echoed a frequent talking point: “No one is illegal on stolen land”. The remark, accompanied by statements against the violently controversial Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), garnered many cheers in the audience.

What Eilish might not have expected was that the very next day, a local law firm would take her up on her comments. As it turns out, her multi-million mansion is located on the Los Angeles Basin, an ancestral land of the Tongva tribe. A stolen land, in its own right.

That this is an example of virtue signalling is, hopefully, apparent. The desire to call out an evil one partakes in is, at best, tone deaf. From an 11-time Grammy winner, most fans certainly expect better.

What I find far more alarming is this incessant need for celebrity statements. Netizens demand positions, declarations, statements from their favorite celebrities. I think this is much more so about personal guilt than a true care for the Tongva people, or any other marginalized communities. I fear for a society that looks not to scholars, academics or experts, but to movie stars, pop singers or influencers for moral advice.

I understand that celebrities find themselves in a position of influence. I, myself, have made staunch criticism of platformed people who choose to use their power for what many consider the net bad. But my proposition is not that everyone speak about everything.

Sometimes we are not experts. Sometimes we have moral inklings, even positive ones, that are fundamentally useless when paired with the absence of sound arguments, the echoing of empty talking points with no action to give them weight.

I don’t think Eilish was ill-intentioned, but she was certainly oblivious. I honestly don’t care much for what she has to say. I urge us, common people, to value the informed opinion over the glamorous one. And I urge celebrities to put their money where their mouth is.

At the Grammys, I paid much more attention to album of the year winner, Bad Bunny. His statements for Puerto Rican liberation came coupled with economic investment, cultural acknowledgement and extensive infrastructure support for his homeland. He puts his money where his mouth is, and the fans naturally follow.

To celebrities: if not for genuine moral quandary, do it for the PR. There is nothing more incongruent than a misinformed perspective. Your intentions may be pure, but the outcome of speaking where you lack expertise is nothing but harmful.

Because now, even the best of liberals have to hear out Republican leaders like Ron de Santos when they say Eilish should probably look at her own backyard before attempting to fix America. Because now, her mother’s dedication to combatting food insecurity through the Support+Feed non-profit Eilish frequently supports reads slightly hollow. Because now, her image is tainted.

Celebrities, I urge you to consider: what virtues are we signalling? The virtue of hypocrisy?

If you care for a movement, know when to sit it out. Know when to use your platform to platform others and know when to put money towards what you claim to believe in.