Katy Perry, the 41-year-old pop sensation, known not only for her music but also for her relationship with former prime minister Justin Trudeau, recently expressed her disapproval of the Trump Administration’s use of her song in a TikTok video related to the conflict with Iran.
In the video posted on the White House’s TikTok account, a snippet of Perry’s song “Firework” was used as the background music for footage depicting explosions, seemingly representing recent U.S. strikes in Iran. The explosions were synchronized with the lyrics “Boom, boom, boom,” accompanied by a message stating, “Iran has been warned.”
Perry took to social media on Saturday to convey her disappointment, stating that she was “deeply appalled and angry to see” her music being utilized in such a manner. She emphasized that the song was intended to inspire hope, healing, and strength during challenging times, and using it to signify destruction and violence contradicted its original message.
Although Perry may disapprove of the use of her music, she has limited control over its usage due to selling the publishing rights for five of her albums to Litmus Music for a reported $225 million in 2023, which included the album containing “Firework.” Universal Music Group, the owner of the masters, retains authority over how the audio is utilized, shared, and monetized, with its music being accessible on TikTok under a global licensing agreement established in 2024.
Perry is not the only artist to object to the unauthorized use of their work by the Trump administration. Pop star Ariana Grande previously criticized the White House for using her music in a video related to immigration policies, expressing her strong disapproval of associating her music with such actions.
Additionally, Bruce Springsteen has voiced his objections to President Donald Trump utilizing his songs at political events dating back to 2016. Perry, known for her support of Democratic figures like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, has accompanied Trudeau to various events and engagements, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Trudeau highlighted the importance of soft power.