Wunmi Mosaku Pauses Oscar Celebration Amid ICE Killings & Immigration Concerns

Wunmi Mosaku, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the critically acclaimed film Sinners, says she’s found it impossible to fully celebrate the achievement amidst profound grief over recent events. The British-Nigerian actor revealed in an interview with The Times of London that the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents have cast a shadow over what should be a joyous occasion.

Mosaku’s nomination marks a career high point, culminating in a groundbreaking performance in Sinners, a genre-bending film directed by Ryan Coogler that garnered a historic 16 Academy Award nominations. The film’s success, particularly its nuanced portrayal of Black female experience, resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. Mosaku previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the impact of her character, Annie, on Black women was a particularly meaningful aspect of the recognition.

“Just knowing how a lot of Black women felt when seeing me represent her, just feeling lovable and soft and strong and powerful and loving and all of our humanity and our mystique and power and spirituality and our ancestors and our connection and our purpose — seeing the response, hearing the response from other Black women felt really healing,” Mosaku said. “So just knowing that this character is being celebrated in award season feels really good. I don’t take it lightly.”

However, the weight of recent tragedies has made it difficult to embrace the celebratory aspects of the nomination. “I’ve not been able to celebrate because of what’s going on right now, with the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minnesota and the kidnapping of a five-year-old boy,” Mosaku explained. “It’s difficult to hold both the nomination and the news because one feels beautiful and one is so dark and heavy; truly dystopian — how can I possibly go out and buy some drinks and enjoy the moment?”

The deaths of Good and Pretti, both American citizens, at the hands of federal agents have sparked outrage and protests across the United States. The incident has reignited debate surrounding the actions and accountability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the broader issue of police brutality. Mosaku’s response reflects a growing sentiment among artists and public figures who are grappling with the challenge of navigating personal success against a backdrop of societal pain.

Mosaku’s struggle to reconcile joy and grief isn’t isolated. She noted a cultural disconnect in her reaction, observing that her husband was less surprised by the news than she was. “There’s a very strange American psyche where terrible things happen and people still can go to work the next day, whereas I’m floored for a week and think, ‘How are people going to crowded places when this has just happened?’ I want a cocoon. My reaction reminds him that this is not normal.”

The actor’s comments come as part of a broader wave of protest within the entertainment industry. Jamie Lee Curtis recently slammed the actions of federal agents as an “abhorrence,” while Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny used the 2026 Grammy Awards platform to call out ICE. Bruce Springsteen released a protest song addressing the “state terror” in Minneapolis following the deaths of Good and Pretti. At the recent Independent Spirit Awards, Natasha Rothwell, Tessa Thompson, and Kumail Nanjiani also voiced their opposition to ICE’s actions.

Mosaku’s nomination for Sinners recognizes her compelling performance as Annie, a character that Coogler intentionally crafted to celebrate the complexities of Black womanhood. “I always say more than anything, I’m so grateful for the people who poured into Ryan to give him this gift and see us in all of our humanity and our gentleness and how much he loves Black women because he wrote that role and he cast me,” Mosaku said. “He hasn’t been tainted by capitalism and the ideas of what femininity is and what beauty is.”

The 2026 Academy Awards are shaping up to be a politically charged event, with Sinners leading the nominations. Mosaku’s candidness about her conflicted emotions underscores the growing expectation for artists to use their platforms to address social and political issues. Whether she ultimately celebrates on the red carpet remains to be seen, but her willingness to speak out about the tragedies impacting her perspective is a powerful statement in itself.

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 1, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.