The British rock band Radiohead is demanding that the Trump administration take down a promotional video for Immigration and Customs Enforcement that uses one of their songs.
The ICE video, which was posted on social media last week, features a version of the song “Let Down” from the band’s critically acclaimed 1997 album “OK Computer” alongside faces of people the administration describes as victims of “criminal illegal alien violence.”
It is part of the “This is our why” campaign by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to defend President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown amid public backlash.
Social media accounts for Trump, the White House and DHS, which collectively have tens of millions of followers, also shared the video. It has since circulated and gained attention on other social media platforms.
“We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain’t funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight,” Radiohead said in a statement sent to NBC News.
“Also, go f--- yourselves,” the band added.
Radiohead’s PR agency said the song was used in an ICE “propaganda” video without the band’s permission.
Reached for comment, a DHS spokesperson didn’t directly say whether the administration would honor Radiohead’s request and remove the video in question.
“We fight for the Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, Katie Abraham and countless other American victims of illegal alien crime,” DHS deputy assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in an emailed statement. “Where is the compassion for the mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters of Americans who have been brutally raped and murdered by criminal illegal aliens?”
Apart from his music, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, 57, is known for his anti-capitalist politics and outspoken activism on causes like environmentalism.
It isn’t the first time the Trump administration has found itself at odds with artists and entertainers after using their material to justify the president’s controversial immigration enforcement tactics. A few months ago, pop star Sabrina Carpenter demanded that the administration stop using her song “Juno” in an ICE video. Before that, podcaster Theo Von called out DHS for using a clip of him in a pro-deportation video.
Artists like The Rolling Stones have also demanded that Trump stop playing their music at his political rallies.
