Los Angeles, CA – A Los Angeles-based law firm has sparked controversy by offering pro bono legal services to the Tongva tribe to evict pop sensation Billie Eilish from her multimillion-dollar home, citing the singer's recent comments at the Grammy Awards about immigration and indigenous land rights.
The unusual proposal came from Sinai Law Firm, which describes itself as the premier eviction firm in Los Angeles County. In a press release issued on Tuesday, February 5, 2026, the firm stated, “Sinai Law Firm is offering to evict Billie Eilish from her Los Angeles home on a pro bono basis on behalf of the Tongva Tribe.” The offer follows Eilish's acceptance speech at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 3, 2026, where the 24-year-old artist addressed immigration enforcement and land ownership.
During her speech while accepting the award for Best Pop Vocal Album for her work on Hit Me Hard and Soft, Eilish declared, “no one is illegal on stolen land,” a statement widely interpreted as a critique of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. She also reportedly exclaimed, “F–k ICE,” drawing both applause and backlash from the audience at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The remarks, delivered amid heightened national debates over border security and deportation, quickly went viral on social media, amassing millions of views within hours.
Avi Sinai, principal attorney at the firm, clarified to the New York Post that the eviction offer was intended as satire, but it underscored what he sees as inconsistencies in Eilish's position. “Obviously, the post was satirical, but I do think the use of language of ‘stolen land’ is often used to silence valid political debate,” Sinai said. He further criticized the entertainment industry's elite, adding, “And it’s incredibly hypocritical of Hollywood elites to preach from their gated and guarded property.” As of Tuesday, Sinai reported that he had not received any response from Eilish's representatives.
The Tongva tribe, also known as the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians, whose ancestral territory encompasses the Los Angeles Basin and the Channel Islands, responded to the controversy on Monday. A tribal spokesperson told reporters that Eilish had not reached out directly about her property, valued at approximately $3 million and located in the upscale Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. “Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when public figures provide visibility to the true history of this country,” the spokesperson said.
The tribe expressed a measured appreciation for the attention while emphasizing the need for accurate representation. “It is our hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles Basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory,” the spokesperson added. This statement highlights the Tongva's ongoing efforts to raise awareness about their historical dispossession, which dates back to Spanish colonization in the 18th century and subsequent U.S. expansion in the 19th century.
Eilish's home, purchased in 2021 for $2.45 million and reportedly now worth around $3 million, sits on land that the Tongva claim as part of their unceded territory. The tribe, which numbers about 2,000 members today, has long advocated for recognition of their land rights, including through federal acknowledgment efforts that remain unresolved. While the Tongva do not currently hold legal title to the specific parcel under Eilish's residence, their cultural and historical claims have been central to broader discussions on indigenous sovereignty in California.
The law firm's stunt has drawn mixed reactions online, with some users praising it as a clever rebuke to celebrity activism and others dismissing it as insensitive to Native American issues. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) saw hashtags such as #EvictBillie and #StolenLand trending in the U.S. by midday Tuesday, reflecting the polarized nature of the immigration debate. Eilish, known for her advocacy on environmental and social justice causes, has not publicly commented on the eviction offer as of Wednesday morning.
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions over immigration policy under the current administration. In recent months, ICE has intensified operations in Southern California, leading to protests and high-profile arrests that have fueled artistic responses. Eilish's Grammy remarks echo similar statements from other celebrities, including speeches by artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alicia Keys at prior award shows, which have criticized federal enforcement tactics.
Legal experts note that while the Tongva's claims carry significant historical weight, evicting a private homeowner based on indigenous title would face formidable legal hurdles under current U.S. property law. “Indigenous land claims are complex and often require congressional action or court rulings to enforce,” said Professor Elena Ramirez, a law scholar at UCLA specializing in Native American rights, in a separate interview with The Appleton Times. Ramirez emphasized that satirical offers like Sinai's, while attention-grabbing, rarely translate to actionable litigation without tribal consent and federal support.
The Tongva tribe's history provides crucial context for understanding the sensitivity of Eilish's comments. Displaced from their lands during the California Mission period beginning in 1771, the Tongva endured forced labor, disease, and cultural suppression. Today, they operate the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians-Tongva Nation, focusing on cultural preservation and economic development through ventures like gaming and tourism on limited reserved lands.
Sinai Law Firm, founded in 2015, has built a reputation for handling high-volume eviction cases in Los Angeles, particularly amid the city's ongoing housing crisis. The firm's website promotes its services with taglines like “Fast, Fair, and Final,” and it has represented landlords in thousands of cases annually. The pro bono offer to the Tongva marks a departure from its typical clientele, blending legal humor with political commentary.
Eilish, a Grammy-winning artist with over 100 million monthly Spotify listeners, rose to fame with her 2019 debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which earned her five awards at the 2020 Grammys. Her career has been marked by outspokenness on issues like climate change and mental health, but Tuesday's developments represent one of the more direct challenges to her public persona. Representatives for Eilish and the Recording Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Appleton Times.
As the story gains traction, it raises questions about the intersection of celebrity influence, indigenous rights, and free speech in America. Tribal leaders have used the publicity to reiterate calls for land acknowledgments in public events, while critics of Eilish argue that her words invite scrutiny of her own lifestyle. Whether the law firm's offer leads to any formal action remains unlikely, but it has undeniably amplified the Tongva's voice in a city built on their ancestral grounds.
Looking ahead, the Tongva tribe plans to engage with media outlets to educate the public on their history, potentially leveraging Eilish's platform for dialogue. “Visibility is a starting point, but real change comes from policy and recognition,” the tribal spokesperson concluded. For now, the episode serves as a flashpoint in ongoing national conversations about equity, history, and accountability.