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Kesha Condemns White House for Using Her Song in Military Video
Pop star Kesha has publicly denounced the White House for using her hit song “Blow” in a TikTok video featuring footage of bombing raids and military aircraft. The singer’s rebuke comes amid growing tension between the administration and musical artists over unauthorized use of their work.
“Trying to make light of war is disgusting and inhumane,” Kesha stated in a social media post. “I absolutely do NOT approve of my music being used to promote violence of any kind.” Her statement came approximately three weeks after the White House initially posted the video on its official TikTok account.
The controversial video, which paired military operations footage with Kesha’s party anthem, has drawn criticism from observers who view it as trivializing armed conflict. Critics point to the jarring disconnect between the song’s celebratory tone and the serious nature of military strikes depicted in the footage.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded to Kesha’s complaint by reposting her statement on his Twitter account. “All these ‘singers’ keep falling for this,” Cheung wrote. “This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re bitching about. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Kesha quickly fired back with a succinct response: “Stop using my music, perverts,” directly tagging the official White House account.
This exchange marks the latest in a series of conflicts between the administration and music artists. Earlier, singer Sabrina Carpenter spoke out against the White House’s use of her song “Juno” in official content. These disputes have generated significant social media engagement, though largely in the form of criticism rather than support for the administration’s messaging efforts.
Political analysts question whether the White House’s apparent strategy of deliberately provoking artists is effective. While Cheung suggested the controversy generates beneficial attention, critics note that antagonizing celebrities with millions of devoted fans might do more harm than good, especially given the administration’s current polling challenges.
The incident highlights the increasingly blurred lines between entertainment, social media, and political messaging in modern governance. Some commentators have drawn parallels to French philosopher Jean Baudrillard’s theories about how war has been transformed into media content that distorts reality rather than representing it.
For musicians, the unauthorized use of their work in political contexts presents both legal and reputational concerns. Artists typically maintain rights over how their music is used, particularly in promotional or political contexts, and many have expressed dismay at having their creative work associated with policies or actions they personally oppose.
Kesha now joins a growing list of musicians who have publicly objected to the use of their songs by political figures. During previous administrations, numerous artists including Neil Young, R.E.M., and the Rolling Stones took legal action against unauthorized use of their music at political rallies and in campaign materials.
As digital platforms continue to evolve as primary channels for government communication, questions about appropriate use of copyrighted material and the ethics of pairing entertainment content with serious policy matters remain contentious issues in the political landscape.
For Kesha, whose public image has evolved from her early “party animal” persona to a more multidimensional artist following her highly publicized legal battles, the stance against her music being used in military content represents another chapter in her ongoing journey of reclaiming control over her artistic legacy.
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8 Comments
This is a disappointing move by the White House. Using a pop song to gloss over the gravity of military action shows poor judgment. Artists should have the right to choose how their work is used, especially for sensitive topics like war.
Kesha was right to speak up and reject this inappropriate use of her music. The White House should respect artists’ creative rights and avoid trivializing complex issues.
This is a concerning pattern of the White House disregarding artists’ wishes and rights. Using Kesha’s song to trivialize war is a poor reflection on the administration’s judgment and sensitivity. Kesha was right to strongly condemn this action.
I’m glad Kesha spoke up and rejected the White House’s unauthorized use of her music. Artists deserve to have control over how their work is portrayed, especially for political purposes.
Kesha is absolutely right to call out the White House’s tone-deaf attempt to use her music. Trying to make light of military strikes is both disrespectful and dangerous. The administration should learn from this misstep.
The White House’s attempt to use Kesha’s music to glorify military action is highly inappropriate and disrespectful. Kesha was absolutely right to condemn this blatant misuse of her art. The administration should learn from this incident and be more mindful of artists’ rights going forward.
While the White House may have thought this was a clever way to reach a younger audience, it backfired spectacularly. Kesha’s forceful rebuke highlights the need for more care and sensitivity when dealing with artistic content, especially around topics of war and violence.
It’s good to see Kesha stand her ground. Artists should have a say in how their work is used, especially for political or promotional purposes.