'Billie Eilish got me deported': Activist Drew Pavlou denied US entry after Malibu mansion stunt

Australian activist Drew Pavlou says U.S. authorities denied him entry after he posted online about plans to “occupy” Billie Eilish’s Malibu home, an allegation he blames on the singer’s team without offering proof. Pavlou wrote on X that he spent “30 hours at LAX immigration” trying to explain that his posts were a joke. There is no evidence linking the decision to Eilish or her representatives. Newsweek reported that a community note on his post said he was denied entry, not deported—a legal distinction under U.S. immigration law.

Billie Eilish's Grammy Awards speech sparks backlash

According to Newsweek, the dispute began after Eilish spoke at the 68th Grammy Awards and said, “No one is illegal on stolen land.” She added, “It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now... we need to keep speaking up and keep protesting. Our voices really do matter.”




Her remarks drew criticism online. Some users claimed she lives on land that once belonged to the Tongva tribe. Newsweek cited the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrieleno Tongva, which said, “We appreciate the opportunity to provide clarity regarding the recent comments made by Billie Eilish. As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land.”

After the speech, Pavlou, who calls himself a “performance artist,” tried to crowdfund a plan to move into Eilish’s mansion. On February 2, he posted, “Exciting news: I’ve decided to move into Billie Eilish’s USD 6 million Malibu beachfront mansion because no human being is illegal on stolen land. Thank you Billie for your generosity.”

Drew Pavlou denied entry to US after X posts

On February 15, Pavlou escalated his claims. “Billie Eilish got me deported from the US - I think her legal team contacted DHS. I spent 30 hours at LAX immigration trying to explain that my s*** posts were just a joke and that I didn’t actually plan to personally move into her mansion,” he wrote.

He added, “Honestly most of the agents were nice and laughed at the idea but there was nothing I could do.” In another post, he said, “Honestly amazing performance art, I somehow managed to get Billie Eilish and American liberals to endorse border control and deportations. The pain was worth it for the meme.”

His February 15 post drew more than 14 million views. Elon Musk replied, “Most ironic outcome is most likely.” Eilish has not responded publicly, Newsweek reported.

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell, born December 18, 2001, in Los Angeles, is an American singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and bold musical style. She broke through in 2015 with “Ocean Eyes,” written and produced by her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O’Connell. Her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, hit number one in multiple countries and included “Bad Guy,” which topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Eilish has won multiple Grammy Awards and Academy Awards for songs, including “No Time to Die” and “What Was I Made For?” from 'Barbie.'

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