Beyoncé has reportedly become the latest star upset with former President Donald Trump for using her song as part of his presidential campaign.
The 42-year-old singer’s record label and publisher issued a cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign after it used her song “Freedom” in a social media video featuring Trump, Billboard magazine reported.
In a video posted on X, Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung shared a clip with the song being played as images showed Trump stepping off a plane.
Shortly after news broke about the singer’s label threatening to block the use of the song by the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign, the video was deleted, The Guardian noted.
It comes after Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign had started using the song at campaign events and even unveiled a new a cappella version in an ad played at the DNC, the outlet noted. The singer reportedly gave Harris permission to use the song during her campaign.
Per CNN, a source close to Harris revealed that the team asked to use the song from the 2016 album “Lemonade.”
Beyonće has sent the Donald Trump campaign a cease-and-desist letter over the use of her song ‘Freedom’—which has become Kamala Harris’ unofficial campaign song—in a video on social media.
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The “Single Ladies” hitmaker is only the latest celebrity performer to get mad that Trump used their song during his campaign. On August 11, the family of late singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes sued the Trump campaign for what it said was the unauthorized use of one of Hayes’ songs at presidential “campaign rallies from 2022-2024,” as previously reported.
Hayes’ family is demanding “not less than” a “$3 million payment” in licensing fees from Trump and his campaign for using the song the late singer co-wrote with David Portner in 1966 for Sam & Dave, called “Hold on, I’m Coming,” at his rallies, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Earlier this month, Celine Dion’s management team on behalf of Dion and her record label released a statement about how her song, “My Heart Will Go On,” from the “Titanic” soundtrack, was played at the Trump-JD Vance rally in Bozeman, as previously reported.
“Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” the statement read.
“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement added. “…And really, THAT song?”
Other artists who have gotten upset at Trump using their songs include the Rolling Stones, Rihanna, and Axl Rose, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
Related: Beyoncé Gives Kamala Harris Permission To Use Song ‘Freedom’ For Campaign: Report
