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The White House drew criticism from Katy Perry after posting a TikTok video featuring her 2010 hit single “Firework” accompanying black-and-white footage of recent military strikes against Iranian positions. The post, which included the caption “Iran has been warned” along with a firework emoji, timed the clip to the song’s distinctive “boom, boom, boom” lyric without seeking the artist’s consent.
Perry responded Saturday through social media, declaring her opposition to the unauthorized use of her composition. The 41-year-old musician stated she neither approved the post nor was consulted beforehand, emphasizing that the track’s message contradicts the imagery presented by the federal government.
“I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments,” Perry explained. She argued that repurposing the track as a soundtrack to military action violated the song’s core purpose of promoting self-worth and uplifting messages rather than celebrating warfare.
White House Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr responded by sharing footage from Perry’s 2012 music video for “Part of Me,” which depicted the Grammy-nominated artist training with U.S. Marines, captioning the clip “This you?” The exchange highlighted tensions between the administration and the entertainment industry over music licensing.
Perry sold her music catalog covering five studio albums to Litmus Music, a subsidiary of The Carlyle Group, in September 2023 for a reported $225 million. The agreement included master recording royalties and publishing rights to “Firework” and other major hits including “Roar,” “I Kissed a Girl” and “Dark Horse.”
The incident follows similar disputes between the Trump administration and multiple artists, including Ariana Grande and Kesha, who objected to their songs being used in official TikTok posts. Grande condemned the use of her song in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement enforcement video, while Kesha protested the application of her track “Blow” to footage of military action.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the criticism on social media, suggesting that artist complaints actually amplified viewership of the administration’s videos. The tension underscores ongoing disputes over music licensing and artistic control in the digital age.
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