Radiohead has issued a statement demanding that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement remove a social media video featuring a choral version of their song 'Let Down.' The band criticized the Department of Homeland Security for using the track from their 1997 album 'OK Computer' in a post highlighting alleged crimes by immigrants. The statement included strong language against the unauthorized appropriation.
On February 18, 2026, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shared an Instagram video that included a choral rendition of Radiohead's 'Let Down.' The video displayed photographs of individuals ICE described as American citizens harmed by immigrants, accompanied by lyrics such as 'You know where you are with / Floor collapses, floating / Bouncing back.' The caption stated: '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.' The post also appeared on accounts for the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and President Donald Trump.
Radiohead responded on February 27, 2026, with a statement saying: '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…' The band emphasized the song's significance, noting its recent virality on TikTok and Thom Yorke's comments on its emotional resonance.
This incident follows similar controversies, including Olivia Rodrigo's objection in November 2025 to ICE using her song 'All-American Bitch' in a video of officers detaining people. She commented: 'Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,' though the remark was later deleted. Other artists protesting ICE include Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Bruce Springsteen—who released 'Streets of Minneapolis' after the January 2026 deaths of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good at the hands of ICE agents—and Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Green Day, Neil Young, Moby, and Zara Larsson.
Radiohead's guitarist Jonny Greenwood recently requested removal of his 'Phantom Thread' score from a Melania Trump documentary, citing a breach of agreement. Despite such objections, music licensing on social media limits artists' ability to enforce removals.
