The woke music machine is at it again.
This time it’s Radiohead erupting in outrage after a pro-ICE social media video used a choral version of their song Let Down without permission.
The English band didn’t exactly hold back.
In a public statement, Radiohead blasted what they called “amateurs” running the ICE social media account and demanded the video be taken down. They insisted the song “means a lot” to them and others and accused the agency of misappropriating it — punctuating their message with an explicit send-off.
The Department of Homeland Security video reportedly paired the track with imagery portraying immigrants as violent criminals. That framing sent the band into full meltdown mode, adding to a growing list of entertainment elites furious about their music being used in political messaging they don’t control.
They’re not alone. Pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter have also objected to DHS content featuring their songs.
But here’s the bigger picture.
Radiohead is a multimillion-selling band from the U.K., far removed from the daily realities of American border towns, overwhelmed cities, and working-class neighborhoods grappling with immigration policy. Yet they’re quick to lecture the very country whose fans helped turn them into global icons.
It’s a familiar pattern: global entertainment elites raging from gated communities and luxury tour buses while everyday Americans deal with the consequences of federal policy decisions.
The irony? “Let Down” is a song about alienation and disillusionment. Now it’s become the soundtrack for yet another culture war clash — not because fans chose it, but because artists can’t stand their art being associated with policies they dislike.
This isn’t really about one video. It’s about control.
For years, major artists have aligned themselves with progressive causes, amplifying messaging that fits comfortably within the industry’s dominant political worldview. But when their music crosses into messaging they oppose, the outrage machine kicks into high gear.
The question many everyday fans are asking is simple: When did rock bands become speech police?
Whether the video ultimately comes down or not, one thing is clear — the divide between the entertainment elite and ordinary Americans continues to grow. And every time another band lashes out from overseas, that gap only widens.
The woke music machine may dominate award shows and late-night stages, but outside that bubble, plenty of fans are tired of being talked down to by celebrities who don’t live with the policies they protest.
"Radiohead en Barcelona, Daydream Festival" by alterna2 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
