Olivia Rodrigo is expressing her profound discomfort after the United States government utilized her music to advocate for ICE—an action the pop sensation described as “disturbing” in a recent cover feature for British Vogue.
In the interview, released March 19, Rodrigo detailed her shock upon discovering that her Guts standout, “All-American Bitch,” had been synced to Department of Homeland Security footage depicting immigration officers apprehending and detaining individuals. “That was awful. Dystopian,” she told the magazine, reflecting on the jarring juxtaposition of her art and state enforcement.
“The way ICE fractures communities and intimidates people is deeply unsettling,” Rodrigo continued. “We are living through a truly somber and frightening era.”
The controversy stems from a November incident in which the DHS utilized the track to pressure undocumented individuals into “self-deporting” via the administration’s CBP Home app. At the time, Rodrigo was quick to denounce the move, commenting directly on the post: “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
This isn’t the first time the Grammy winner has challenged the agency. Rodrigo has frequently joined her peers in condemning ICE for its history of mass deportations and aggressive tactics against demonstrators—notably citing the tragic deaths of activists Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed by officers in Minneapolis.
Shifting focus to her creative future, Rodrigo also offered a glimpse into her upcoming studio album. Currently estimated to be 70% finished, the project will reportedly be anchored by “sad love songs.” The former Disney star explained that her most cherished romantic tracks are those that incorporate a “tinge of fear or yearning.”
Addressing her own experiences with love—having recently been linked to actor Louis Partridge—she noted that a stable relationship isn’t a panacea for self-doubt. “I used to think that the moment I found a great relationship, everything would just click into place and I’d feel perfect,” she shared. “But it just doesn’t work like that.”
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