Katy Perry Protests White House's Unauthorized Use of 'Firework' in War Propaganda

Pop superstar Katy Perry has expressed outrage over the White House's unauthorized use of her hit song "Firework" in a promotional video for the war with Iran. Perry took to X, formerly Twitter, on July 25 to state her deep shock and anger, emphasizing that she never approved the song's use and was never asked. She described "Firework" as an anthem of hope and healing for those experiencing dark and personal moments, not a song to glorify war.

The White House had used Perry's 2010 hit as background music in a TikTok video posted on July 23, which featured images of explosions in Iran. The video strategically edited the song's "Boom, boom, boom" lyric to coincide with bomb explosions. This incident follows similar public criticisms from other pop stars, including Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo, whose songs were allegedly used without permission in promotional videos by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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I was surprised and angry to see my song used in the White House account. I have never been approved or asked to use it.

Katy Perry is also known for her relationship with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had previously clashed with then-President Trump over trade tariffs. The unauthorized use of her music by the White House has sparked a debate about copyright and the ethical implications of using popular songs in political or military contexts.

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This song is an anthem of hope and healing for those experiencing the darkest and most personal moments, and I have never authorized its use in a war promotion.