Zara Larsson Slams White House for Misusing Her Song in Ad
WHO:
NBC News - Zara Larsson has 12.5 million TikTok followers.
BBC - Zara Larsson is the artist involved in the controversy.
BBC - The White House is the organization that used Larsson's song in a video.
WHAT:
NBC News - The White House TikTok video celebrating ICE-led deportations went silent after Larsson's critique, displaying the message: “This sound is unavailable.”
NBC News - Larsson referred to the White House as “losers” in her TikTok response.
BBC - The White House used Zara Larsson's song "Midnight Sun" in a deportation video.
BBC - Larsson criticized the video as "dehumanising" and accused the White House of sowing "division".
WHERE:
BBC - The location of the White House is Washington, D.C.
WHY:
NBC News - Larsson expressed that the video is "so dehumanizing" and highlighted that many of the detained individuals appeared to be wearing neon-colored protective work clothes, common for construction or highway work.
BBC - Larsson stated that the lyrics of her song reflect a connection between people and nature, contrasting with the message of the video.
HOW:
NBC News - It was unclear whether TikTok muted the video to protect Larsson’s work or if the White House muted it themselves.
BBC - The White House removed the song from one of its reels following Larsson's criticism.
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 16:02 UTC)
Zara Larsson, who boasts 12.5 million followers on TikTok, recently criticized a White House video celebrating ICE-led deportations, calling the administration “losers” in her response. Following her critique, the video went silent, displaying the message: “This sound is unavailable,” and Larsson described the content as "so dehumanizing," noting that many detained individuals were dressed in neon-colored protective work clothes typical for construction or highway work. It's still unclear whether TikTok muted the video to protect Larsson’s work or if the White House took that action themselves.
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(UPDATED September 18, 2026 08:58 UTC)
Zara Larsson is at the center of a controversy after the White House used her song "Midnight Sun" in a deportation video, which she criticized as "dehumanising" and accused the administration of sowing "division." Larsson pointed out that the lyrics of her song emphasize a connection between people and nature, which starkly contrasts with the video's message. In response to her criticism, the White House has removed the song from one of its reels.