Zara Larsson Condemns White House Use of 'Midnight Sun' in Deportation Video
Swedish pop artist Zara Larsson has vocally condemned the White House's use of her track "Midnight Sun" in an Instagram reel that featured migrants being deported. Larsson, addressing her 7.8 million followers, described the video as "dehumanising" and insisted her music be removed from the clip, which she claimed was "propaganda".
The video, posted by the White House on 12 June, showcased US Customs and Border Protection agents escorting individuals onto aircraft. The original caption stated that "The US government is conducting daily deportation flights... with more than 24,000 migrants already returned to their countries of origin."
Following Larsson's public intervention, the White House edited the reel, removing her song. Larsson expressed her shock, stating, "To use my song, 'Midnight Sun', in a video about their immigration policy... I want to make it very, very clear that I do not support that whatsoever." She further elaborated that using her music to "push that agenda" was unacceptable.
The original post had also drawn criticism from others who pointed out the disparity between the Biden administration's stated concerns for human rights and its immigration enforcement practices, which often echo those of previous administrations. This incident underscores the broader scrutiny of Western governments' migration policies and their impact on individuals seeking refuge.
