Katy Perry ‘appalled’ that White House used ‘Firework’ song in Iran war video - The Washington Post

What the report says

The Washington Post reported that Katy Perry objected after the White House used her 2010 song “Firework” in a TikTok video connected to the war with Iran. According to the Post’s headline and article snippet, the pop artist said she was “appalled” by the use of the track and described the video as a “violation” of the song’s meaning. The report appeared under a July 25, 2026, URL and identified the White House video as being about bombing Iran.

The Post’s available snippet says Perry framed “Firework” as a song centered on hope and healing, not military action. No additional details were available in the supplied text about whether Perry, her label or publishers had approved the use, whether a formal takedown request was made, or whether the White House responded.

The dispute matters because high-profile songs are often used to shape the tone of political or government messaging, and artists frequently push back when they believe a use conflicts with their views or the work’s intended message. In general, music in social media videos can raise separate questions from campaign-rally playback, including platform licenses and synchronization rights, but the supplied Post material does not specify the legal status of this particular TikTok.

Based on the available evidence, the central development is Perry’s public objection to a White House social media post pairing “Firework” with wartime imagery or messaging about Iran, and her argument that the use ran counter to the song’s stated themes.