American pop star representing Generation Z, Sabrina Carpenter, has publicly expressed anger towards the White House. The trigger was the unauthorized use of her hit song in a White House video about illegal immigrant enforcement.
On the 2nd (local time), the White House posted a shocking video on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The video showed ICE agents arresting immigrants and handcuffing them. The issue was the use of Carpenter’s hit song ‘Juno’ as background music. Moreover, the video description included part of the lyrics “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye.”
Disgusted Pop Star and the White House’s Short and Sweet Response
Upon seeing the video, Carpenter immediately protested. She commented directly on the post, strongly objecting, “This video is wicked and disgusting. Never involve my music or me in aiding inhumane agendas.”
In response to Carpenter’s protest, the White House didn’t back down. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement mocking Carpenter’s latest album title, ‘Short n’ Sweet.’
According to CNN, spokeswoman Jackson said, “A short and sweet message to Sabrina Carpenter,” adding, “We will not apologize for deporting dangerous criminals, illegal aliens, murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.” She continued, “Are those who defend such abhorrent monsters fools or slackers?” showing a sharp reaction.
Ongoing Unauthorized Music Use Controversy
This is not the first conflict between a famous pop star and the White House. Last November, pop star Olivia Rodrigo warned against using her song ‘All-American Bitch’ in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) video encouraging immigrants to voluntarily depart, saying, “Never use my music to promote your racist and hate-filled propaganda.”
In the past, during the Donald Trump administration, numerous artists including Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, and Bruce Springsteen publicly opposed their music being used in election campaigns or policy promotions, leading to controversies.
Who is Sabrina Carpenter, the Z-Generation Icon Facing the White House?
Sabrina Carpenter debuted in 2013 through Disney Channel’s popular series ‘Girl Meets World,’ emerging as a teen icon. She successfully transitioned into a singer, establishing herself as a representative icon of Generation Z.
Especially, her single ‘Espresso’ released last year created a global sensation with its addictive melody. The song surpassed 200 million streams within a month of release and achieved significant commercial success, reaching 3rd on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album ‘Short n’ Sweet’ containing this song won two Grammys in the Pop category for Solo Performance and Vocal Album, earning recognition for its musicality.
