Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and producer, says he was tear-gassed while participating in LA protests

President Donald Trump deploys the National Guard to Los Angeles to aid law enforcement as protests over immigration enforcement escalates. (Source: CNN, POOL, SPECTRUM LA, KCAL, KCBS, KABC, TIM PINGEL, CBS FACE THE NATION, LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT via CNN Newsource)
Published: Jun. 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM CDT|Updated: 3 hours ago
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LOS ANGELES (Gray News) – Finneas O’Connell, best known for his work as a producer for his sister Billie Eilish, said that he was tear-gassed during a “peaceful protest” in Los Angeles over the weekend.

The 10-time Grammy-winning producer was part of a group protesting immigration raids.

In an Instagram story to his 4.5 million followers, he wrote:

“Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown — they’re inciting this.”

Finneas poses in the press room with the awards for best song written for visual media and...
Finneas poses in the press room with the awards for best song written for visual media and song of the year for "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie the Album" during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles.(Richard Shotwell | Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Multiple protests happened in Los Angeles on Sunday with thousands of people upset over ICE’s raids on undocumented immigrants in the area.

President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to the protests.

Roughly 1,000 National Guard arrived in the city by Monday, and Trump said he had authorized 2,000 to deploy if needed.

Finneas O'Connell, left, and Billie Eilish pose in the press room with the award for best...
Finneas O'Connell, left, and Billie Eilish pose in the press room with the award for best original song for "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie" at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.(Jordan Strauss | Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Because of this, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced plans Monday to sue the Trump istration, saying the state’s sovereignty was “trampled” by Trump because the state did not request the National Guard be deployed.

According to the Associated Press, this appears to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said he also plans to file suit against the Trump istration for what he called “an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act,” AP reported.