Katy Perry Condemns White House Use of 'Firework' in Military Video

Pop star Katy Perry has publicly criticized the White House for utilizing her 2010 hit song "Firework" in a TikTok video that featured footage of military strikes. The video, which was uploaded to the official White House TikTok account on Thursday, synchronized the song's lyrics, specifically the "boom, boom, boom" section, with clips of bomb explosions. The accompanying caption stated, "Iran has been warned."

Perry, through her representatives, issued a statement on Friday condemning the use of her music. The statement read, "I absolutely do not condone it. The White House has been asked to remove the song and all future uses of Katy Perry’s music."

The use of the song in the context of military action has drawn criticism, with many interpreting it as an inappropriate juxtaposition of a celebratory pop anthem with violent imagery. The White House has not yet issued a formal response to Perry's statement or the request to remove the song. This incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the licensing and ethical use of popular music in political and governmental communications, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok.