Beyoncé issues cease-and-desist to Trump over song use
Beyoncé demands Trump stop unauthorised use of her song 'Freedom'
Beyoncé has reportedly issued a cease-and-desist to former President Donald Trump.
An insider revealed the Trump campaign did not obtain permission to use Beyoncé’s song ‘Freedom’ from her Lemonade album in a social media video. The 13-second clip, featuring Trump exiting a plane in Michigan, was posted by campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung on Tuesday, August 20.
The video has now been removed from Cheung’s Twitter.
Kamala Harris’ campaign, with the artist’s approval, has prominently featured ‘Freedom’ in various campaign materials. The song played during Harris’ first public appearance after securing Joe Biden’s endorsement, and an official launch video also used the track. On Monday, August 19, the Harris/Walz campaign released a new advertisement featuring ‘Freedom’ with narration by actor Jeffrey Wright.
Trump has faced similar controversies before. Earlier this summer, he used Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a rally in Montana, including a video of Dion performing the song. Dion’s team condemned the unauthorised use and urged Trump to stop using her music.
Dion’s management and Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. issued a statement denouncing the use of her performance and likeness without permission, making it clear that Dion does not endorse such actions.
As of now, the Trump campaign has not commented on the cease-and-desist. Updates will follow as the story develops.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Billboard reports Beyoncé’s label has sent Donald Trump a cease-and-desist order, demanding he stop using “Freedom” at his campaign events.(read more)
- The Independent reports that Beyoncé threatens Trump campaign with cease-and-desist letter over unauthorized use of her song ‘Freedom’, which Kamala Harris has adopted as her campaign anthem.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Did Beyoncé give Trump permission to use her song?
No, Beyoncé did not give permission.
What song did Trump use in his campaign video?
Trump used Beyoncé’s ‘Freedom’ from Lemonade.
Has Trump used music without permission before?
Yes, he used Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ without permission.
Is Beyoncé’s song ‘Freedom’ used in any other campaigns?
Yes, Kamala Harris’ campaign uses ‘Freedom’ with Beyoncé’s permission.
What did Celine Dion’s team say about Trump using her song?
They urged Trump to refrain from using her music.
