Katy Perry Denounces Trump Administration’s Use of ‘Firework’ in Military Strike Video

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Katy Perry is speaking out forcefully after the White House incorporated her smash hit “Firework” into promotional material without her authorization.

The 41-year-old pop icon took to social media on Saturday (July 25) to denounce the administration for leveraging her 2010 anthem in a TikTok upload featuring combat footage of military strikes. Earlier in the week, the official White House TikTok profile shared a clip that paired Perry’s iconic chorus with monochrome footage of bombings, accompanied by the menacing caption, “Iran has been warned.”

“I am profoundly disturbed and outraged to see ‘Firework’ utilized on the @WhiteHouse TikTok channel as background audio for military strike footage,” Perry shared on X. “This was done without my knowledge or consent, and I completely disavow it.”

She elaborated further, stating, “I composed this track to serve as a beacon of hope, emotional healing, and resilience for individuals navigating their most difficult personal battles. Watching a message centered on self-worth and empowerment hijacked to soundtrack warfare and destruction directly opposes the core values my art represents.”

Perry concluded her public statement by emphasizing, “My music exists to unify people, not to glorify armed conflict.”

Initially launched as the third single from Perry’s landmark 2010 studio album Teenage Dream, “Firework” quickly cemented itself as a definitive career milestone, reigning supreme at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four nonconsecutive weeks.

Perry joins a growing roster of prominent musicians who have publicly condemned the current administration for appropriating their catalogs for political messaging and campaign events without permission.

Back in June, Ariana Grande sharply criticized the White House for featuring her 2024 track “Bye” within a TikTok video highlighting ICE arrests. Similarly, earlier this year, Kesha voiced her indignation after her song “Blow” was misappropriated in a TikTok showcasing fighter jets and military operations under the heading “Lethality.”

View Perry’s complete statement on X below.

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