Katy Perry criticises White House over use of "Firework" in military TikTok video

Katy Perry has criticised the White House after her 2010 hit Firework was used in a TikTok video showing military strikes without her permission.

The video featured footage of explosions and carried the caption: "Iran has been warned."

In a social media statement, Perry said she was "deeply appalled and angry" by the use of the song. She said she had not been asked for permission and did not support the message.

Perry said she wrote Firework as "an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength" and accused the White House of using it in a way that went against its meaning.

"My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare," she wrote.

The White House responded by sharing a clip from Perry's Part of Me music video, which features military themes, and noted that she sold her music catalogue to Litmus Music in 2023.

Perry joins a growing list of artists who have objected to the use of their music in political settings. Celine Dion, the estate of Sinéad O'Connor and Ariana Grande have all recently criticised the unauthorised use of their songs in campaign or White House videos. Grande later launched a charitable foundation to support immigrants following the use of her song Bye in an ICE-related social media post.