Radiohead Condemns ICE's Unauthorized Use of "Let Down"

Radiohead has issued a strong band statement criticizing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for using their song "Let Down" in a promotional video without permission.

Radiohead's Stance

A spokesperson for Radiohead confirmed that the use of their song was unauthorized. The band's statement unequivocally demanded the removal of the video.

"Go fuck yourselves."

The statement further emphasized the significant importance of "Let Down" to the band and its audience, asserting that ICE had no right to appropriate the track for its purposes.

The Controversial ICE Video

The video at the center of the dispute featured a choral version of "Let Down" as its soundtrack. It displayed a montage of violence victims, accompanied by text. This text explicitly attributed the incidents to "criminal illegal alien violence," concluding with the message: "This is who we fight for. This is our why."

A Pattern of Disputed Music Use

Radiohead is not the first artist to object to ICE's use of their music in similar promotional content.

• Olivia Rodrigo: In November, Rodrigo specifically instructed ICE not to use her songs to "promote racist, hateful propaganda." This instruction followed the appearance of her song "All American Bitch" in a video depicting agents detaining immigrants.

• Sabrina Carpenter: Carpenter strongly condemned ICE's use of her song "Juno" in footage that showed immigrants being tackled and arrested. She labeled the video "evil and disgusting." ICE later featured an altered "Saturday Night Live" commercial clip using Carpenter's likeness in other content.

Prior Licensing Dispute for Radiohead Members

Separately, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and director Paul Thomas Anderson have faced a music licensing dispute concerning the "Melania" documentary. They previously sent a message requesting the removal of a licensed score from "The Phantom Thread," which was used in the documentary.

Greenwood stated that his contract required him to be informed of future licensing, a condition he claimed was not met in this instance. However, Marc Beckman, a producer for "Melania," maintained that the musical cue was properly licensed and would, therefore, remain in the film. Greenwood has not offered further comments on this specific issue.