Ariana Grande [Getty Images]
Ariana Grande [Getty Images]

Pop star Ariana Grande has directly warned the White House to stop using her music in videos promoting immigration enforcement operations.

Grande posted a comment Wednesday on the White House's official TikTok account, writing: "Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane and vile nonsense."

The TikTok video showed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting immigrants, set to Grande's 2024 hit "Bye" as background music.

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson rebuffed Grande's comment, saying, "What's truly barbaric and inhumane are the criminal illegal immigrants who have hurt and killed innocent American citizens."

This is not the first time a pop star has pushed back against the Donald Trump administration for using their music without permission in immigration enforcement videos. Singers Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo have also expressed displeasure after their songs appeared in similar White House content.

The Trump administration has also drawn copyright controversy by playing music by Neil Young, Adele and Aerosmith without authorization at campaign events.

Some observers have suggested the administration deliberately courts such controversies to rally its base and generate publicity.

Others have noted that any damages from a lawsuit would be paid out of government funds, leaving little practical deterrent effect.


paq@heraldcorp.com