Zara Larsson is pushing back after the White House used her song “Midnight Sun” as the soundtrack to a TikTok video featuring footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting and deporting individuals.
The video, posted to the White House’s TikTok account, includes the caption, “Never ending deportations.” The phrase seems to play off the “never ending midnight sun” lyric from Larsson’s song.
The musician responded in a TikTok of her own, beginning with an “L” gesture before explaining why seeing her music used in the clip upset her.
“I’m just sad. My heart is heavy seeing that,” she said, before addressing the creator of the video and emphasizing that she believes people on both sides of the issue are not fundamentally different.
The pop star then spoke on the circumstances of her own upbringing, pointing to the opportunities she had growing up in Sweden as something she considers herself fortunate to have received. She also talked about people in the video who, in her view, are simply trying to work and build better lives for themselves and their families.
The disconnect between the song and the imagery was very striking for Larsson. She explained that “Midnight Sun” is about feeling connected to nature, the universe, and even other people. Seeing it paired with videos of immigration enforcement was jarring for her.
“This video is so dehumanizing. These people in the video are real people,” she said, pointing to a man wearing construction clothing who is in the video. “They’re just trying to have a better future.”
Larsson also criticized what she described as the tendency to turn serious subjects into memes, saying the video creates division instead of connection. She ends her video response by calling those responsible for the post “f–king losers.”
Billboard has reached out to the White House for comment.
This also isn’t the first time Larsson has objected to the White House using her music in its social media content.
Earlier this year, the White House posted a video of President Donald Trump dancing to Larsson’s “Lush Life,” accompanied by messages supporting ICE and law enforcement. Larsson subsequently shared an Instagram Story expressing support for immigrants and other groups, writing, “I f–king hate ICE.”
Larsson’s most recent response comes alongside other artists who have also publicly spoken out against the use of their music in White House social media posts concerning immigration enforcement. Ariana Grande, for example, recently objected after her song “Bye” appeared in a video featuring ICE agents, writing that her music should not be used in connection with what she called “barbaric” and “inhumane” content.
Larsson’s “Midnight Sun” has had a major presence on TikTok as well as on the charts. Earlier this year, the track gave the star her second-highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 13, following her smash collaboration with PinkPantheress, “Stateside,” which peaked at No. 6.
View Larsson’s full response below.
