Katy Perry has once again entered the realm of politics, not just through her romantic relationship. The 41-year-old singer, who has been romantically involved with former prime minister Justin Trudeau since last July, criticized the Trump Administration for featuring one of her songs in a TikTok video related to the conflict with Iran.
The White House shared a brief video on Thursday, using a snippet of Perry’s song “Firework” as the background music to footage depicting explosions, possibly representing recent U.S. actions against Iran. The explosions were synchronized with the lyrics “Boom, boom, boom,” accompanied by a message declaring, “Iran has been warned.”
Expressing her dismay on Saturday, Perry stated that she was “deeply appalled and angry” to witness her music being utilized in such a manner. She emphasized that she had composed the song as a symbol of hope, healing, and inner strength for individuals navigating personal struggles. Perry condemned the manipulation of her song, originally intended to inspire positivity, into a soundtrack for destruction and violence.
While the White House has not provided a response, the audio has been removed from the original post. Despite Perry’s disapproval, she holds limited legal authority over the usage of her songs, as she sold the publishing rights for five albums, including “Teenage Dream” featuring “Firework,” to Litmus Music for a reported $225 million in 2023. Universal Music Group retains ownership of the masters, governing the audio’s utilization, distribution, and monetization. Universal’s music is fully licensed on TikTok under a multi-year global agreement initiated in 2024.
Perry is not the sole artist to protest against the Trump administration for unauthorized use of their work. In a similar vein, pop star Ariana Grande objected to the White House incorporating her music in a video concerning immigration policies. Additionally, iconic musician Bruce Springsteen has voiced disapproval of President Trump utilizing his songs, dating back to political events in 2016.
The singer has previously shown support for Democratic figures such as Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris in their presidential campaigns against Trump. It is evident that Trump and Trudeau do not share a positive relationship, with Trump expressing satisfaction at the departure of the previous Canadian prime minister. Earlier this year, Perry accompanied Trudeau to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he emphasized the importance of soft power.