British singer Jess Glynne has publicly voiced her profound dismay after discovering her uplifting anthem, “Hold My Hand,” was utilized in an official White House video promoting deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The artist, known for her music’s message of unity and positivity, condemned the clip as a grave misuse of her creative work, expressing that the experience left her feeling “sickened” by the divisive context.
The controversial video, disseminated across social media platforms by the official White House account, featured a stark montage of immigration detainees in restraints being escorted onto a GlobalX flight by ICE officers. This footage was overlaid with the instantly recognizable audio from the viral Jet2holiday advertisement, which prominently features Glynne’s 2015 hit alongside the jingle “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday,” creating a jarring and widely criticized juxtaposition.
Adding to the provocative nature of the White House’s post, the video also included a clip of President Donald Trump giving a thumbs-up gesture and a screenshot from an application designed to facilitate self-deportation for American immigrants. The composite material presented a clear political message, directly clashing with the intended spirit of Glynne’s song.
Upon learning of the video’s existence early Wednesday, Jess Glynne was swift in her condemnation. She took to Instagram Stories, unequivocally stating her distress: “This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity and spreading positivity – never about division or hate,” she wrote, underscoring the stark contrast between her artistic vision and the video’s political agenda.
The choice of “Hold My Hand” for the White House video leverages a significant recent cultural phenomenon. The Jet2holiday jingle, featuring Glynne’s track and its distinctive voiceover, has become a widespread meme on platforms like TikTok, where it is frequently paired with humorous content, from comical mishaps to elaborate stunts. Prior to this political application, the trend had largely remained lighthearted, accumulating over 71,000 TikTok posts with the audio.
The White House’s appropriation of the audio quickly elicited strong reactions from the public and Glynne’s fanbase. Many users expressed shock and disappointment, with some lamenting that the once-innocent trend was now irrevocably altered. Comments ranged from simple exclamations of “Oh” accompanied by shocked emojis to more direct statements, such as one user’s declaration: “Just like that the trend is over.”
Despite the considerable public backlash and the singer’s explicit disapproval, the Trump administration, having recently returned to power, has shown no indication of retracting the post or altering its stance. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, in a statement to The Independent, defended the content, asserting, “There is nothing more unifying and positive than deporting criminal illegal aliens and making American communities safer. The memes will continue until every criminal illegal alien is removed!” This resolute statement underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to its immigration policies and its controversial communication strategy, despite the widespread criticism from both the entertainment industry and social media users. The incident highlights the growing tension between popular culture and political messaging, particularly when viral content is repurposed for contentious agendas, leaving artists like Glynne to grapple with the unexpected and undesired political associations of their work.
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