Lady Gaga speaks out against ICE at Tokyo concert, calls for accountability

Lady Gaga addressed immigration enforcement and U.S. policy during a concert at Tokyo Dome on Thursday night, the penultimate date of her Japanese tour. She paused the performance to deliver remarks before introducing her song "Come to Mama," which calls for unity.

"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," the singer told the audience. "In a few days, I'm going back home and my heart is aching when I think about the people, the children, the families all across America who are being relentlessly targeted by ICE."

Lady Gaga referenced conditions in Minneapolis specifically, stating she was thinking about those living with fear and seeking answers about what should be done. She called for systemic change and compassion from leadership.

"We need to get back to a place of safety and peace and accountability," she said. "Good people shouldn't have to fight so hard and risk their lives for well-being and respect. And I hope our leaders are listening; I hope you're listening to us ask you to change your course of action swiftly and have mercy on everyone in our country."

The singer acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining hope during turbulent times, noting that her community, friends, and family sustain her emotionally. "At a time where it doesn't feel like it's easy to have hope, it is my community and my friends, my family that hold me up," she said.

Lady Gaga is currently touring in support of her album Mayhem. She is scheduled to return to the United States soon for the Grammy Awards, where she has seven nominations. The artist has previously spoken publicly about protecting LGTBQ+ and transgender communities, and has campaigned for Democratic candidates while expressing concerns about Trump administration policies.