SZA Accuses White House of “Rage-Baiting” Artists for Free Publicity
SZA criticized recent White House social media tactics as manipulative and uninspired. In a post on X on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the R&B artist said the Trump administration was “rage baiting” performers to generate free publicity.
Replying to a post from her former manager, Terrence “Punch” Henderson, SZA wrote that the White House’s efforts to provoke artists were “PEAK DARK,” calling out what she described as inhumane, shock‑and‑awe methods and dubbing the approach “Evil n Boring.”
Billboard contacted the White House seeking comment on her post.
Henderson’s original message warned against deliberately provoking artists to elicit reactions that amplify political messaging, calling the tactic “nasty business” and urging officials to stop.
The exchange echoes a spate of recent incidents in which official accounts used songs by prominent, largely liberal musicians in government videos. In November, Olivia Rodrigo publicly objected after her song “All‑American Bi—” was paired with a reel celebrating immigration enforcement; she said at the time that her music should not be used to promote what she called racist, hateful messaging.
Sabrina Carpenter also spoke out in December after the White House paired her song “Juno” with footage of immigration officers detaining people. She described the clip as “evil and disgusting” and asked that her music not be used to further what she called an inhumane agenda.
Responding to Carpenter’s comments, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek the administration would not apologize for deporting individuals they describe as dangerous, and she reframed the singer’s lyrics in a critical remark about those who defend migrants.
The White House issued a brisk response after fans protested the use of Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” in a TikTok video, telling Variety the clip was created knowing that media outlets would amplify the backlash. “Congrats, you got played,” an official said at the time.
