Katy Perry has once again ventured into political territory, not just through her romantic relationship but also through her recent criticism of the Trump Administration. The 41-year-old singer, who has been romantically involved with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since last July, expressed disapproval over the White House’s use of her song in a TikTok video related to the conflict with Iran.
The brief video, shared on the White House account last Thursday, featured a snippet of Perry’s song “Firework” playing alongside footage depicting explosions believed to be recent U.S. strikes on Iran. The explosions were synchronized with the lyrics “Boom, boom, boom,” and the video’s accompanying message warned Iran.
Perry voiced her strong objections on Saturday, stating that she was deeply appalled and angered by the misappropriation of her music. She emphasized that she originally composed the song as a message of hope, healing, and inner strength for individuals facing their darkest moments. Perry’s sentiments were shared on social media platform X, where she underscored her dismay at witnessing her song, intended for empowerment, being used to glorify destruction and violence.
Although the White House has not issued a response, the controversial audio has been removed from the original post. Despite Perry’s disapproval, she holds limited legal authority over the use of her music due to selling the publishing rights for five of her albums to Litmus Music in a deal valued at $225 million US in 2023. This agreement encompassed her album “Teenage Dream,” which includes the song “Firework.”
The ownership of the masters remains with Universal Music Group, granting them control over the usage, distribution, and monetization of the audio. Universal Music’s catalog is accessible on TikTok under a global licensing agreement established in 2024.
Perry is not the only artist to object to the Trump administration utilizing their work without permission. Other musicians, such as Ariana Grande and Bruce Springsteen, have also spoken out against the unauthorized use of their music in political contexts. Perry, a vocal supporter of Democratic figures like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, has a history of engaging in political discourse and activism.
Perry’s presence alongside Trudeau at prominent events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, underscores her involvement in both political and social spheres. Despite the lack of response from the White House, the incident has sparked conversations around the ethical use of artists’ work in political messaging.