Photo credit: Variety (Instagram post referencing Variety coverage)
According to Variety, SZA criticised the White House after her song was used in a pro-ICE social media post, describing the tactic as ‘evil’ and ‘boring’.
The backlash spread quickly across entertainment media as artists and fans debated consent, political messaging, and the ethics of repurposing pop culture for government content.
The story gained extra heat as outlets tracked the reaction cycle, including follow-up statements and broader comparisons to earlier music-use controversies.
- Rolling Stone (website): “…calling their post ‘evil and boring.’”
- Billboard (website): “White House Responds to SZA…”
Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is bigger than one clip—it’s a collision between culture and messaging power. When artists push back, the next phase is usually legal and commercial: clearer licensing terms, faster takedown demands, and public positioning by brands that partner with artists. Watch for whether more musicians join in, and whether platforms tighten rules on how official accounts use copyrighted music.
Source: Rolling Stone Australia— 2025-12-10 — https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sza-blasts-white-house-snl-song-ad-88609/
2025-12-10
