Radiohead Condemns ICE's Unauthorized Use of 'Let Down' in Controversial Video
Radiohead has issued a strong statement against the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for using a cover of their song 'Let Down' in a video promoting a controversial narrative.
Radiohead has publicly condemned the unauthorized use of their song 'Let Down' by the Department of Homeland Security's ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in a recent video. The song, a choral version from their seminal 1997 album 'OK Computer', was used as the soundtrack for an Instagram video that the band finds deeply objectionable.
The video in question features imagery suggesting harm caused by immigrants, concluding with the phrase 'This Is Our Why.' The lyrics heard in the background include: “You know where you are with/ You know where you are with/ Floor collapses, floating/ Bouncing back/ And one day I am gonna grow wings/ A chemical reaction/ Hysterical and useless.”
The caption accompanying the video states: “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.”
Radiohead's response was swift and unequivocal. Their statement read: “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…”
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 18, 2026
This incident follows a recent surge in popularity for ‘Let Down’ on TikTok, a phenomenon that Thom Yorke described as “especially bizarre” in an interview with The Sunday Times. He recounted how he initially resisted including the track on 'OK Computer', but Ed O’Brien insisted on it.
Yorke shared his surprise at the song's resurgence: “Still, I was astonished. So I told my kids, who are 18 and 21, and they said, ‘What do you expect? Teenagers are depressed. It’s depressing music!’” O’Brien added.
Philip Selway also chimed in with his own experience of the band's intergenerational appeal.
“I was at the station the other day,” he said. ‘And schoolboys were playing ‘Everything In Its Right Place’ [from Kid A] on a piano. Then they played Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Radiohead, live in Madrid, 2025. Credit: Alex Lake
Radiohead is not the first artist to object to ICE's unauthorized use of their music. In November, Olivia Rodrigo criticized the organization for using her song ‘All-American Bitch’ in a video depicting ICE officers forcibly detaining people.
Rodrigo responded, commenting on the video: “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,” though the comment was later deleted.
Calls condemning the actions of ICE have grown more widespread in recent weeks following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in January, who were both US citizens, at the hands of ICE agents.
Bruce Springsteen has been a particularly vocal opponent, calling for ICE to “get the fuck out of Minneapolis” and permitting the use of ‘Born In The USA’ in an anti-ICE video. He also wrote an anti-ICE protest song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis‘ which had its live debut during a surprise appearance at a benefit show hosted by Tom Morello.
Other artists and celebrities who have spoken out include Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Green Day, Neil Young, Moby, Zara Larsson, musician and Stranger Things star Joe Keery, Spider-Man actor Yuri Lowenthal, Duran Duran, and Dave Matthews.
In other news, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and Paul Thomas Anderson recently requested that their Phantom Thread music be removed from the Melania Trump documentary but producer Marc Beckman insisted that it would be “in the film forever”.
The five members of Radiohead have also formed a new private limited company, suggesting the band are planning something in the near future.
Related Articles
- U2 Drops Surprise EP 'Days of Ash' Addressing Global Political Issues
- Cardi B Clashes with Department of Homeland Security Over ICE Comments
- Mark Ruffalo Claps Back at Kevin O'Leary for Criticizing Billie Eilish's Anti-ICE Grammys Speech
Related Articles
Listen to Radiohead on Foxsoundi. Click here to listen!
Comments (0)
Login to comment