Grammy-winning singer SZA isn’t holding back after discovering her hit “Big Boys” was used without permission in a controversial ICE promotional video posted by the White House. The SOS artist took to X (formerly Twitter) to blast the administration, accusing them of exploiting musicians for political messaging.
“White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK… inhumanity + shock and awe tactics… Evil and Boring,” SZA wrote in a furious post that quickly went viral.
The now-infamous clip—shared on Monday—shows ICE officers conducting arrests while the caption reads, “WE HEARD IT’S CUFFING SZN. Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America.” The combination of law enforcement imagery and SZA’s upbeat track struck a nerve online, sparking immediate backlash across the political and entertainment spheres.
SZA’s response joins a growing chorus of artists—including Sabrina Carpenter and Kenny Loggins—who’ve condemned political figures for using their music without approval. Many noted that “Big Boys”, originally featured in a 2022 Saturday Night Live sketch, was never meant to be associated with government messaging or immigration enforcement.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson fired back at the criticism, sarcastically thanking the singer for amplifying the clip’s reach: “Thank you, SZA, for drawing even more attention to the tremendous work America’s ICE officers are doing by arresting dangerous criminal illegal aliens from American communities.”
The feud has ignited a heated debate about artistic control and political propaganda, with fans rallying behind SZA’s callout. As one fan commented, “Using her art for this is insane. Artists deserve respect, not exploitation.”
