Key Points
SZA publicly criticized the White House for using her song in a pro-ICE advertisement.
The track “Big Boy” was repurposed in a social media video depicting ICE arrests.
SZA and her manager accused the administration of exploiting artists for political messaging.
The White House defended the post, framing it as support for immigration enforcement efforts.
SZA Speaks Out Against Political Use of Her Music
Grammy-winning artist SZA has sharply condemned the White House after one of her songs was used in a social media video promoting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
The criticism came after the administration shared a post featuring her track “Big Boy,” a song that gained mainstream attention following a Saturday Night Live sketch in December 2022.
Artist Calls White House Post ‘Evil’ and ‘Boring’
SZA reacted swiftly on X (formerly Twitter), calling the use of her music “evil” and “boring.” The White House post referenced the song’s lyrics, describing the arrests shown in the video as “cuffing szn,” and framed ICE operations as a win for the country.
The video’s caption read, “Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America,” a message SZA described as deliberate provocation. She accused the administration of “rage baiting” and using artists’ work to draw attention to controversial policies.
Manager Joins Criticism as White House Responds
SZA’s longtime manager, Punch, also weighed in on social media, criticizing the administration for what he called an attempt to bait artists into responding in order to amplify political messaging. He described the tactic as “nasty business” and urged officials to stop using musicians’ work in this way.
In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement to Variety, thanking SZA for what she described as unintentionally increasing visibility for ICE’s efforts. Jackson emphasized that the agency’s actions were aimed at apprehending “dangerous criminal illegal aliens” and protecting American communities.
A Growing Pushback From Artists
SZA’s comments follow a broader trend of musicians objecting to their work being used in political content without consent. Just days earlier, singer Sabrina Carpenter criticized a video associated with former President Donald Trump’s administration that used her song “Juno” alongside footage of ICE raids.
Carpenter labeled that video “evil and disgusting,” making clear she did not want her music connected to policies she views as harmful.
Why the Controversy Matters
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between artists and political institutions over the use of copyrighted music in government messaging. While such usage may be legally permissible under certain conditions, critics argue it raises ethical concerns about artistic intent, consent, and the politicization of entertainment.
As more artists publicly challenge these practices, the debate continues over how music should — or should not — be used in official political communication.
What Happens Next?
The White House has not indicated it will change its approach, but continued backlash from high-profile artists could prompt renewed scrutiny of how music is deployed in political messaging. For now, SZA joins a growing list of performers drawing firm boundaries around how their work is used.
