Katy Perry Blasts White House for Using “Firework” in Military Strike Video

Pop star Katy Perry has lashed out at the White House after her 2010 hit song “Firework” was featured in an official video showcasing military strikes. Perry called the move a “complete violation” of the song’s intended message of hope and healing.

The controversy began when the White House posted a TikTok video pairing footage of military strikes with the song’s recognizable “boom, boom, boom” chorus. The post was captioned “Iran has been warned,” sparking immediate backlash from fans and industry observers.

Perry took to social media to make clear she had no involvement in the decision. “I am deeply appalled and angry to see ‘Firework’ used as a backing track for video footage of military strikes,” she wrote. “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.”

The singer stressed that the track, released as part of her 2010 album *Teenage Dream*, was designed to inspire confidence and resilience—not to accompany scenes of violence. Using it to soundtrack military action, she argued, fundamentally misrepresents what the song stands for.

Perry is far from alone in her frustration. A long list of artists, including Céline Dion, Ariana Grande, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and Kesha, have previously objected to unauthorized use of their music in political and military contexts. The pattern has reignited questions about copyright protections and whether government agencies should need explicit permission before pairing songs with controversial content.

The incident underscores a growing tension between artists protecting their work and institutions that use popular music without consent. For Perry, the message is straightforward: “Firework” belongs to a legacy of empowerment and unity—not warfare.