Zara Larsson Condemns White House's Use of Her Song in ICE Deportation Video
Swedish singer Zara Larsson publicly objected to the White House's use of her track 'Midnight Sun' in a social media clip depicting immigration enforcement actions. In a TikTok reply, she said she felt heartbroken and wished to speak with the video's creators, emphasizing that everyone shares fundamental similarities. She also described the video as dehumanizing and criticized the administration's social media team.
Larsson's objection follows a pattern of musicians publicly distancing themselves from political uses of their work, though her response was notably personal rather than legalistic. She framed her critique around shared humanity and circumstance, contrasting her Swedish upbringing and opportunities with the precarious situations faced by undocumented immigrants. Her TikTok reply directly addressed the video's creators, calling the clip "dehumanizing" and expressing frustration with the administration's social media team. The White House video, captioned "Never ending deportations," featured ICE arrest footage set to her track "Midnight Sun," prompting her emotional public statement.
This incident could resonate beyond the immediate controversy, potentially influencing how artists approach licensing their music for political contexts. It may also amplify public discourse on immigration enforcement imagery, with Larsson's platform reaching younger audiences who might not otherwise engage with such policy debates. The clash between creative expression and governmental use could prompt other musicians to reconsider permissions, while the emotional framing may humanize immigration discussions for some viewers.