ICE has a habit of using TikTok audio for meme-style ads, but they don't have a habit of asking artists for permission to use their songs. Last artist affected: Sabrina Carpenterwho criticized the White House for making a joke about deporting people using the video for her song “Juno.”
UPDATE (Dec. 5, 4:43 p.m. ET): Following Carpenter's response denouncing ICE's Juno video, which received more than 1.7 million likes on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the White House has now quietly deleted his post. While it's unclear exactly why the video was removed, the Trump administration has previously been forced to remove similar posts due to copyright lawsuits brought by many musicians who have unfortunately been subjected to such treatment.
Before the suspension earlier this week, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to the pop star's response in a statement to CNNsaying, “Here's a short and sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: We will not apologize for deporting dangerous criminal murderers, rapists and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
The video, posted on the US government's Twitter account, shows ICE officers detaining various people – or putting them in “bizarre positions” as they call it – while repeating the refrain: “Have you ever tried this?” Carpenter responded to the post by writing, “This video is evil and disgusting. Never use me or my music for your inhumane purposes.”
Whatever damn Gen Z intern the White House hires is trained in TikTok audio and is trying to use it to their advantage. Earlier this year Jess Glynne condemns ICE for using the Jet2 Holiday meme of her song “Hold My Hand” in another deportation video. This video remains available on the White House account.
The White House had not responded to Carpenter's comments by press time.
