Lady Gaga Pauses Tokyo Concert to Condemn ICE and Support Americans ‘Who Are Being Mercilessly Targeted’: ‘We Need to Get Back to a Place of Safety’

While concluding a five-night residency at Tokyo Dome on January 30, Lady Gaga used her platform to address a pressing issue back in the United States. In a heartfelt address to the audience, the pop icon expressed her anguish over the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "My heart is aching thinking about the people, the children, the families all over America who are being mercilessly targeted," she stated, emphasizing how lives are being "destroyed right in front of us." Her comments align her with celebrities like Mark Ruffalo and Olivia Wilde, who have recently condemned the agency at events like the Golden Globes and Sundance Film Festival.

Gaga specifically referenced the recent shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota—a state she is scheduled to perform in this April. "When entire communities lose their sense of safety and belonging, it breaks something in all of us," she told the crowd, asking for solidarity despite the physical distance. She then dedicated her song "Come to Mama," from her 2016 album *Joanne*, to those suffering and feeling helpless. The singer called for a return to "safety and peace and accountability," directly urging leaders to "change your course of action swiftly and have mercy." This advocacy is a consistent thread in her career; throughout her current tour, she has prominently supported the LGBTQ+ community by wearing trans flag colors and incorporating a massive rainbow Pride flag into her performance of "Paparazzi."

The Tokyo concerts mark a pivotal moment for Gaga, who is riding a wave of critical acclaim. Her latest album, *Mayhem*, has earned her seven Grammy nominations, including the top categories of Album, Song, and Record of the Year. This surpasses her previous record of six nominations from 2010 and ties her with producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut for the second-most nominations this year. Whether she will attend the Grammy ceremony this Sunday remains uncertain as she wraps her international tour commitments.