Olivia Wilde condemns ICE actions at Sundance while wearing protest pin

Actor and filmmaker Olivia Wilde used her appearance at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival to speak out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), wearing an “ICE Out” pin while addressing reporters on the red carpet. Wilde was attending the festival with two projects, including The Invite, a comedy she directed, when she commented on the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse who died during an ICE-related incident in Minnesota earlier that weekend.

Speaking at the premiere event, Wilde acknowledged the celebratory atmosphere of Sundance but said it was difficult to separate the festival from what she described as widespread pain across the country. She expressed outrage over ongoing violence and criticized what she called the normalization of such events, stating that public acceptance of repeated killings was deeply troubling.

Wilde urged continued opposition to ICE, describing the agency as criminal and calling on the film community to use its visibility to support movements aimed at challenging its legitimacy. She also said she found encouragement in the number of Americans participating in protests nationwide, noting that public demonstrations continue despite increasing risks to protesters.

The actor also appeared at Sundance to promote her role in Gregg Araki’s film I Want Your Sex. She said the protests taking place across the country reflected a broader sense of solidarity and resistance among Americans.

Earlier the same day, actor Natalie Portman made similar remarks while promoting her film The Gallerist at the Variety Studio. Portman also wore an “ICE Out” pin and described the current moment as both celebratory for the film community and devastating due to what she characterized as the brutality of ICE. She emphasized the importance of public discussion and highlighted what she viewed as Americans supporting and protecting one another during a difficult period.