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Activist Deported After Grammy-Inspired Mansion Plan
15 Feb
Summary
- Activist Drew Pavlou was deported from the US for visa issues.
- He planned to occupy Billie Eilish's mansion after her speech.
- Pavlou's GoFundMe was removed by the platform for its content.
An Australian activist, Drew Pavlou, 26, was deported from the United States after arriving with the incorrect visa. Pavlou had intended to "occupy" singer Billie Eilish's mansion in Glendale, California. He stated his mission was inspired by Eilish's Grammy speech on February 1, where she remarked, "no one is illegal on stolen land." Pavlou interpreted this as an invitation.
However, his plan was thwarted at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). US border authorities detained Pavlou for over a day before deporting him, citing that he lacked a business visa. Pavlou claimed his intention was "performance art" and "shitposting," not a genuine attempt to trespass or meet Eilish. He suggested Eilish's legal team might have contacted Homeland Security.
Pavlou had initiated fundraisers for his trip, with an initial GoFundMe raising $3,000 before being taken down. He later switched to GiveSendGo. He had also been invited to appear on a show in Texas, which required a business visa. Officials informed him he needed to apply with different paperwork for future visits, though he was not formally banned from the US.
