June 12, 2026
By Mary Agbabiaka
Grammy-winning singer Ariana Grande has criticised the White House for using her hit song “Bye” in a social media video promoting immigration arrests, demanding that her music not be associated with what she described as “barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.”
The controversy erupted after the White House recently shared a video on its social media platforms showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arresting individuals identified as alleged illegal migrants. The footage featured scenes of handcuffing, detainee transportation and processing at detention centres, accompanied by a soundbite from Grande’s song Bye and the caption: “Bye-bye… President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.”
Responding in the video’s comment section, Grande wrote, “Please do not use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” The comment was later removed, but her objection quickly drew public attention.
