The White House responds to SZA’s “rage baiting” accusations
The White House has hit back at SZA after she accused the current administration of “rage baiting” artists.
SZA’s comments came after the White House used her song, 2022’s ‘Bad Boys’, which was initially written for a skit on Saturday Night Live, on a video promoting ICE deportations.
Initially, her manager, Punch TDE, took to X to write in response to the unauthrorised use of ‘Bad Boys’ in the social media video, “Trying to provoke artist to respond in order to help spread propaganda and political agendas is nasty business. Knock it off.”
On the same social media platform, SZA responded to his post, and added, “White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK ..inhumanity +shock and aw tactics ..Evil n Borin”.
Per Deadline, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in response to SZA’s comments, “Thank you, SZA, for drawing even more attention to the tremendous work America’s ICE officers are doing by arresting dangerous criminal illegal aliens from American communities.”
Many artists have condemned ICE for using their songs, without permission, in social media videos to promote their ongoing mass deportations, including Sabrina Carpenter.
Last week, ICE used Carpenter’s hit song, ‘Juno’, in a video, which led to the ‘Espresso’ singer describing the scheme as “evil and disgusting”, before adding, “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
Following her remarks, Jackson, the White House spokesperson, gleefully said, “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: We won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.”
Additionally, in early November, Olivia Rodrigo also condemned ICE for using her track, ‘All-American Bitch’, in a similar video.
She wrote in a since-deleted Instagram comment, “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.