Katy Perry condemns White House use of Firework in Iran strikes video
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Katy Perry has said she is "deeply appalled and angry" that the White House used her song 'Firework' in a TikTok video featuring US military strikes in Iran. She said she had not been asked for approval and did not condone the use, arguing that linking a song about hope and self-worth to violence distorted its intended message.
The White House posted the video on Thursday with the caption "Iran has been warned", synchronising strike footage with the song's "boom boom boom" lyric. It was published as President Donald Trump threatened to continue or expand the Iran bombing campaign; when asked whether attacks on civilian infrastructure could be war crimes, he declined to answer, instead dismissing the reporter's outlet, The New York Times. Perry is the latest musician to object to the administration's use of their work, following Ariana Grande's criticism last month over the use of her song "Bye" in a video promoting the Secure America Act.
- Katy Perry condemns unauthorised use of 'Firework' in Iran strikes video
- White House TikTok paired footage with song's "boom boom boom" lyric
- Follows similar objection by Ariana Grande last month
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The dispute concerns the use of popular music in political messaging. Musicians can object when their songs are used in ways they say misrepresent their work, although the legal position can depend on copyright licences and the platform involved.
Katy Perry is an American singer whose 2010 song Firework is widely associated with encouragement and self-belief. The White House is the office and residence of the US president, and its social-media accounts are used to promote the administration’s policies and actions.
Iran is a major country in the Middle East, and US military action there is likely to carry wider consequences for the region and international relations. The disagreement also forms part of a broader debate over how governments use cultural works to communicate about contentious issues.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Musicians have a legitimate interest in controlling how their work is associated with public action, particularly military violence. A song’s meaning and an artist’s reputation can be materially affected when it is used to soundtrack a political message without consent, and permission requirements help protect both creative rights and personal expression. On this view, using ‘Firework’ to accompany strike footage distorts an anthem of encouragement into an endorsement of force.
The case against
The White House can argue that short-form use of a widely recognised song in political communication may be protected expression, especially where it is used commentatively or satirically rather than as a substitute for the original work. Governments and political actors have long used popular cultural references to make messages accessible and memorable, and audiences are capable of distinguishing an official post from the artist’s personal endorsement. On this view, objections should be assessed through the relevant copyright rules rather than giving artists an automatic veto over all political associations.
More coverage
- The Hill — Katy Perry blasts White House use of song on Iran strike TikTok: 'Deeply appalled'
- The Hollywood Reporter — Katy Perry Slams White House for Using “Firework” in Military Strikes Video: “I Am Deeply Appalled”
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Originally published by Deadline as “Katy Perry “Deeply Appalled” At White House Use Of ‘Firework’ Song In Military Bombing Video”.