SZA Condemns White House for Using Her SNL Song in Pro-ICE Social Media Post

SZA Condemns White House for Using Her Song in Pro-ICE Social Media Post

SZA publicly criticized the White House for using her song "Big Boy" from a Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch in an immigration enforcement post. The singer called the act "evil" and "boring" on Twitter, condemning the administration for exploiting her music without consent.

The White House’s tweet included a video showing ICE agents arresting immigrants, coupled with lyrics from SZA’s track. They captioned it, "We heard it’s cuffing szn," referring to the song’s viral line. The message praised ICE’s crackdown on what they called “criminal illegal aliens.”

SZA responded sharply, accusing the White House of “rage baiting artists for free promo.” Her manager Punch also denounced the tactic, calling it "nasty business" intended to manipulate artists into supporting political propaganda.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson thanked SZA for highlighting ICE officers’ work in removing dangerous criminals from American communities. This statement came after SZA publicly objected to the use of her music.

This incident adds SZA to a growing number of artists opposing the use of their songs in pro-ICE content. Recently, Sabrina Carpenter similarly rejected the use of her single “Juno” in a White House video celebrating ICE raids.

Carpenter labeled the video “evil and disgusting” and demanded her music not be involved in promoting what she called an "inhumane agenda." The White House later posted a revised clip featuring Carpenter from an SNL commercial, digitally altering audio to mock a cast member.

Key points in the controversy:

1. SZA’s song “Big Boy” was used without permission in a pro-ICE social media post.
2. The White House praised ICE’s immigration arrests using SZA’s music.
3. SZA and her manager publicly condemned the use as manipulative and unethical.
4. White House defended its post, emphasizing ICE’s role in removing dangerous criminals.
5. Other artists like Sabrina Carpenter have also pushed back against unauthorized use.

This ongoing dispute highlights the tensions between artists’ rights and political use of creative content in government messaging. SZA’s vocal opposition continues to draw attention to ethical concerns involving music and political propaganda.