Radiohead respond after ICE uses “Let Down” in a video: “go fuck yourselves”

Radiohead have joined the artists whose music has been used without their permission by ICE in their social media campaign. A video posted earlier this month pairs a choral version of “Let Down” with the video, and accuses “criminal illegal alien violence” of having “torn apart” “thousands of American families.”

In a statement to Variety, a spokesperson for Radiohead said it “goes without saying” that the song “was without the band’s permission.” The band also shared a brief statement:

We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain’t funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight.
Also, go fuck yourselves… Radiohead.

Meanwhile, earlier this month Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, along with director Paul Thomas Anderson, requested the removal of music from 2017’s Phantom Thread, which Greenwood scored, to be removed from the “Melania” film. “It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the ‘Melania‘ documentary,” a statement from Greenwood’s representative said. “While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement. As a result Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.”

Producer Marc Beckman told Variety, “that song is in the film forever,” and that it was included in it legally. “Obviously, my background is as a lawyer,” he told Variety. “We work with the best lawyers; this is Melania Trump. We spent top dollars for all that music, and we’re thrilled to have that song included in the film. If they’re trying to distance themselves from us, for political reasons, that’s just unfortunate. But, honestly, I’ll still remain a fan and listen to their music every single day.”

Thousands of American families have been torn apart because of criminal illegal alien violence.

American citizens raped and murdered by those who have no right to be in our country.

This is who we fight for.

This is our why. pic.twitter.com/lKQp1lb4Q2

— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) February