Olivia Wilde Slams ICE at Sundance and Says ‘People Are Being Murdered’
Olivia Wilde is making a powerful statement at the Sundance Film Festival, using her platform to address the tragic death of Alex Pretti. The 37-year-old intensive care nurse was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, an event that has cast a somber shadow over the annual film celebration in Park City.
On the red carpet for the world premiere of the relationship comedy she directed and stars in, The Invite, Wilde shared emotional words regarding the current state of the nation. We’re all here getting to celebrate something really beautiful and hopeful in film storytelling, she said. But the world is hurting right now, and this country is hurting. And it’s appalling.
Wilde was visibly shaken as she discussed the incident involving ICE and Border Patrol agents. I’m appalled and sickened, she continued. We can’t go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered. And, I don’t want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet. On film. It’s. It’s hideous.
The filmmaker called for direct action and a rejection of the status quo regarding federal immigration enforcement. If we can do anything out here to support the movement to cast ICE out, to delegitimize this unbelievably criminal organization, then that’s what we should be doing, she urged. Wilde noted that seeing the widespread protests across the country has been a source of hope amidst the grief.
I think so many Americans are [speaking out]. I mean, you see the marches happening around the country. Americans are speaking up in huge numbers, and it’s dangerous to be a protester now and people are still going out to the streets, which is incredibly inspiring, Wilde remarked. Her sentiments were echoed by other stars at the festival, including Natalie Portman.
Olivia Wilde wears an “ICE OUT” pin at her @sundanceorg premiere:
— Variety (@Variety) January 25, 2026
“This country is hurting. I’m appalled and sickened. We can’t go another day accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered, and I don’t want to normalize seeing that violence — on the… pic.twitter.com/6ngQIMXCAv
Portman, who is at Sundance for her art-world satire The Gallerist, was seen wearing pins that read “ICE Out” and “Be Good.” It’s really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE and how it has to stop immediately, Portman said at the Variety Studio. It’s a bittersweet moment to celebrate something we’re so proud of on the backdrop of our nation in pain.
Olivia Wilde has been incredibly active in early 2026, pulling double duty at Sundance with both The Invite and Gregg Araki’s erotic thriller I Want Your Sex. In The Invite, she directs and stars alongside Seth Rogen as a couple whose dinner with neighbors Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz takes an unexpected turn. In Araki’s film, she plays a provocative artist who mentors a young assistant, played by Cooper Hoffman.
Aside from her festival entries, Wilde is currently filming the high-profile thriller Behemoth for director Tony Gilroy, where she stars opposite Pedro Pascal. She also recently made a guest appearance on the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio. Her directorial career continues to flourish following the successes of Booksmart and Don’t Worry Darling, with several new projects reportedly in development under her production banner.
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival continues through February 1, though the atmosphere remains heavy as the film community grapples with the events in Minnesota. The death of Alex Pretti has become a central topic of conversation, leading to several impromptu demonstrations and statements of solidarity from filmmakers and actors alike throughout the weekend.
Do you think high-profile film festivals like Sundance are the right place for actors to voice their political concerns, or should the focus remain strictly on the art and the films themselves? Share your thoughts in the comments.