Song Removal Backlash
White House Removes Zara Larsson Song From ICE Video After Criticism
Anonymous
Key Points
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Larsson said one detained person appeared to be wearing construction gear, suggesting he may have been taken into custody while at work; she emphasized that undocumented immigrants are often ordinary people with jobs seeking a better future.
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In her response video, Larsson used an “L” gesture on her forehead—signifying “loser”—and said she wished she could speak with the video’s creator to remind them that they were not fundamentally different from the people shown being detained.
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Larsson’s response drew substantial engagement: it had about 3.4 million views and nearly 1 million likes, while the White House post had about 1.5 million views and 77,000 likes as of Thursday afternoon.
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The White House video included footage of ICE agents parachuting into immigrant communities alongside scenes of agents handcuffing workers and placing them in vehicles.
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Larsson had previously criticized the administration after ICE agent Renee Good was shot and killed in Minneapolis, posting that ICE agents were “the most ridiculous evil clown on the planet,” according to The Cut.
Swedish pop star Zara Larsson has forced the White House to remove her song "Midnight Sun" from a TikTok video showing BBC ICE agents detaining migrants, after she condemned the administration for using her music without permission. The video, captioned "Never ending deportations," paired footage of immigration enforcement with Larsson's 2025 single in what she called a dehumanizing meme that turned real human suffering into a political joke.
Larsson's response video drew massive engagement—3.4 million views and nearly 1 million likes—far outpacing the White House's original post, which had 1.5 million views and 77,000 likes. The incident marks the latest clash between musicians and the Trump administration over unauthorized use of their songs to promote immigration enforcement.
Larsson Slams 'Midnight Sun' Misuse in ICE Video
The White House uploaded TikTok footage showing Contact Music ICE agents parachuting into immigrant communities and handcuffing workers without Larsson's consent. She responded with her own TikTok, making an "L" gesture on her forehead and saying she was "really sad" about how her song—written to celebrate human connection—was weaponized to glorify forced deportation.
Larsson emphasized that one detained person appeared to be wearing construction gear, suggesting he was arrested at work. "These are real people," she said, pointing out that undocumented immigrants are often ordinary workers seeking better lives for their families, not criminals.
Pattern of Artists Rejecting Political Use of Their Music
Larsson joins a growing list of musicians rejecting the administration's soundtracking of enforcement actions. Attack of the Fanboy reported that Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and Sabrina Carpenter have all publicly criticized the White House for using their songs in ICE videos without permission or over content they oppose.
The pattern reflects a broader clash over social media copyright rules. Music licensing agreements often create legal gray areas, allowing platforms to use audio catalogs broadly—but artists argue this does not grant political campaigns moral or ethical rights to appropriate their work.
White House Removes Audio But Leaves Video Online
By Friday, September 18, the White House silenced the "Midnight Sun" audio track on the post, but Daily Guardian reported the video itself remained visible on their TikTok account. The administration offered no public statement explaining the removal or acknowledging Larsson's criticism.
The muted video still displayed footage of handcuffed migrants and ICE operations—the images alone continuing to convey the administration's enforcement message without Larsson's music. Experts say the removal signals recognition that using artists' work without consent carries reputational risk, even if legal frameworks remain murky.
Larsson's Earlier Criticism of ICE Policies
This confrontation follows Larsson's previous public stance against ICE. The Cut documented that after ICE agent Renee Good was killed in Minneapolis, Larsson posted that ICE agents were "the most ridiculous evil clown on the planet," signaling her long-standing opposition to the agency's enforcement tactics.
Her strong reaction to the "Midnight Sun" video reflects a deeper conviction that pairing pop music with immigration enforcement trivializes both her artistic message and the lived reality of detained immigrants.
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