Mark Ruffalo Rips ‘Smug’ Kevin O’Leary After Attacking Billie Eilish

Mark Ruffalo is not holding back after Kevin O’Leary suggested that pop stars like Billie Eilish should stay quiet on political issues and “just entertain.” The clash erupted after Eilish used her Song of the Year acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a moment that quickly sparked backlash from conservative commentators.

While accepting her Grammy for “Wildflower,” Eilish delivered an emotional message addressing the current political climate and immigration enforcement.

“No one is illegal on stolen land,” she told the audience. “It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in this room and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting and our voices really do matter and the people matter. F-ck ICE, is all I wanna say.”

The statement drew immediate praise from supporters, and sharp criticism from others.

Kevin O’Leary weighed in during an appearance on Fox News, arguing that celebrities should avoid political commentary altogether. “It’s the first lesson 101 for a celebrity. As you rise up, whether you’re a film star or music star or whatever, shut your mouth, and just entertain,” O’Leary said.

He went on to warn that speaking out could cost artists fans and money. “Half the people in politics that you piss off won’t buy your music anymore,” he added, suggesting that Eilish ignored past advice from comedian Ricky Gervais about staying apolitical at award shows.

O’Leary also speculated that Eilish’s team was panicking behind the scenes, saying, “I know her agents are going out of their minds.”

Mark Ruffalo didn’t let the remarks slide. Taking to Threads, the actor turned O’Leary’s rhetoric back on him, writing bluntly, “Kevin O’Leary why don’t you STFU.”

He followed up with a longer post accusing the "Shark Tank" star of hypocrisy and smugness. “It’s hilarious,” Ruffalo wrote. “You will go on any show and talk sh-t about any number of things and smugly expect us to listen to you, but you will dig into a real artist that dwarfs anything you dream of doing for actually saying something that resonates with 100’s of millions of people the world over.”

Ruffalo also took a jab at O’Leary’s own Hollywood aspirations, referencing his acting role in "Marty Supreme." “It’s astounding the fantasy double standard Kevin O’Leary lives in,” Ruffalo added. “You played yourself well in 'Marty Supreme.'”

Ruffalo wasn’t the only one pushing back. Finneas O’Connell, Eilish’s brother and longtime collaborator, also weighed in on the backlash, calling out who he sees as leading the outrage.

“Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said during her acceptance speech,” Finneas wrote on Threads. He then added a sharp, pointed remark that quickly went viral. “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files," he wrote.

Eilish’s Grammy speech was not an isolated moment. The singer has repeatedly spoken out about political and social issues, often using public appearances to voice concerns about safety, civil rights, and climate change. In a previous address, Eilish delivered a somber message, reading from a small piece of paper as she laid out what she described as a troubling reality in the U.S.

“We’re seeing our neighbors being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped, resources to fight the climate crisis being cut for fossil fuels and animal agriculture destroying our planet, and people’s access to food and health care becoming a privilege for the wealthy instead of a new basic human right for all Americans,” she said at the time.

Eilish’s comments come amid a broader wave of artists using their platform to voice concerns about the Trump administration and immigration policy. Rather than backing down, many musicians have leaned into speaking openly, even as critics argue entertainers should stay in their lane.