Ariana Grande slams White House for using her song 'Bye' in immigration video, calls it 'barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense'
American pop star Ariana Grande demanded the White House stop using her 2024 hit 'Bye' in a TikTok video promoting immigration enforcement, calling the clip 'barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense'.
The video that sparked the clash
On Monday, June 8, the White House’s TikTok account shared a short video promoting immigration enforcement. The clip, set to Ariana Grande’s 2024 single “Bye,” depicted federal agents arresting and handcuffing people. Over the footage, the caption read: “Bye-bye... President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.” The post came after President Trump signed legislation providing more than $70 billion (£52 billion) for immigration agencies through the remainder of his term. The administration has also accelerated DHS recruiting, deploying ICE agents in major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Atlanta. The agency has faced intense criticism following the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti, Renee Good and Keith Porter Jr. in encounters with law enforcement.
- White House posts TikTok video with 'Bye' soundtrack showing ICE arrests.
- Grande comments: 'Please do not ever use my music … heinous nonsense.'
- Audio muted; comment removed from the post.
Grande’s blunt response
On Thursday, June 11, Grande posted a comment on the White House video. The comment was later no longer publicly visible and users in the comments asked why it had disappeared.
Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.
A source close to the singer said her team was working to remove the music. The video’s audio track was subsequently muted.
White House fires back
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded with a statement that mirrored Grande’s language.
We’ll say this one last time: what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.
The swift exchange underscored how the administration’s social media style continues to draw high-profile pushback from the music industry.
A growing list of artists saying no
Grande joins a chorus of musicians who have objected to the Trump administration using their work. Last year, Sabrina Carpenter wrote “do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda” after a White House clip used her song “Juno” in a similar immigration compilation.
Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.
During the 2024 election, ABBA, Céline Dion and Beyoncé demanded that Trump’s campaign stop playing their songs at rallies. Neil Young, John Fogerty, Phil Collins, Panic At The Disco and the estates of Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty and Prince have all protested, with some filing lawsuits.
Grande’s history of speaking out
The Wicked actress has repeatedly criticized the administration. In September 2025 she reshared an Instagram post condemning ICE raids and transphobic rhetoric, prompting White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai to mock her by punning on her song titles. Grande endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024 and previously performed at the Obama White House.
