advertisement
Music News

Katy Perry Condemns Trump Administration’s Use of ‘Firework’ in Military Strikes Video

"I absolutely do not condone it," the pop star wrote.

Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Courtesy Photo

Katy Perry is speaking out after the White House used her hit song “Firework” without her permission.

The 41-year-old pop star took to social media on Saturday (July 25) to condemn the Trump administration for featuring the 2010 anthem in a White House TikTok post showing footage of military strikes. Earlier this week, the White House’s official TikTok account shared a video that synchronized Perry’s “boom, boom, boom” lyrics with black-and-white footage of bombing. The post was captioned, “Iran has been warned.”


“I am deeply appalled and angry to see ‘Firework’ used on the @WhiteHouse TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes,” Perry wrote on X. “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.”

advertisement

She continued, “I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments. To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for.”

Perry concluded her statement by writing, “My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare.”

Released as the third single from Perry’s 2010 album Teenage Dream, “Firework” became one of the singer’s standout hits, spending four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Perry is among dozens of artists who have criticized the Trump administration over the unauthorized use of their music in political videos and at campaign rallies.

In June, Ariana Grande blasted the White House for using her 2024 song “Bye” in a TikTok video promoting ICE agents making arrests. Earlier this year, Kesha also criticized the Trump administration after her song “Blow” was used without authorization in a TikTok featuring fighter jets and military strike footage captioned “Lethality.”

advertisement

Check out Perry’s post on X below.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

advertisement
Phoebe Bridgers
Olof Grind

Phoebe Bridgers

Rock

Phoebe Bridgers Returns With Long-Awaited New Album ‘Lost Weekend’: Stream It Now

The 16-track record is born from the acclaimed indie folk artist going through major life changes involving love, grief, and adulthood.

After more than six years, Phoebe Bridgers is back with her highly anticipated third studio album, Lost Weekend, released through Dead Oceans.

Last seen performing with indie rock supergroup boygenius alongside her best friends and fellow musicians Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, fans have been waiting for Bridgers to return to solo music and follow up her sophomore album, Punisher, released in 2020.

keep readingShow less
advertisement