American pop icon Katy Perry has publicly condemned the White House for what she describes as the 'weaponisation' of her hit song 'Firework'. Perry expressed her profound anger after discovering her track was used as background music in a TikTok video showcasing military strikes, an action she explicitly stated was unauthorised and against the core message of her music.
In a post shared on social media earlier this week, Perry articulated her dismay, stating she was "deeply appalled and angry" by the White House's use of 'Firework'. She clarified that she had neither approved nor been asked for permission to use the song in such a context, emphasising that she does "absolutely not condone it." Perry highlighted that 'Firework' was penned as an "anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments," making its association with "destruction and violence" a profound betrayal of its meaning.
This latest incident is not an isolated one. Several other prominent artists have voiced similar complaints against the White House for the unauthorised use of their music in social media campaigns. Just last month, pop sensation Ariana Grande criticised the administration for using her song 'Bye' in a video promoting US immigration arrests, describing the content as "barbaric." Similarly, Grammy-winning artist SZA accused the White House of "rage-baiting artists" by incorporating their work into videos promoting deportation efforts, labelling the tactic as "evil n boring."
In December 2025, a video featuring ICE officers making arrests was shared by the White House, soundtracked by SZA’s “Big Boys” and captioned with phrases like “Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America.” Prior to that, Sabrina Carpenter also reacted strongly after the Department of Homeland Security used her song “Juno” in a video depicting ICE agents, demanding they "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda."
The recurring pattern suggests a deliberate strategy by the White House to utilise popular music in its social media messaging, often without the artists' consent or in direct opposition to their expressed values. While the White House has yet to issue a public response to Katy Perry's recent comments, these controversies highlight ongoing tensions between the entertainment industry and political campaigns regarding intellectual property rights and artistic intent.