Geneva: Automakers Cast Wary Eye Toward Russia

The White House has come under fire from both the music industry and LGBTQ+ advocates after using British pop star Jess Glynne’s chart-topping single, “Hold My Hand,” in a controversial video promoting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights. The video, which was released across official social media channels, featured footage of handcuffed undocumented migrants being escorted by ICE officials onto a GlobalX flight, with Glynne’s song playing in the background and a caption that read, “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!”

“Hold My Hand” has recently enjoyed renewed popularity on TikTok, where it was adopted as the soundtrack for a Jet2Holidays advertising campaign. Users across the platform have shared humorous and lighthearted clips of holiday mishaps, accompanied by the now-iconic voiceover, “Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday.” This trend, which celebrates the joy of travel and togetherness, has become closely associated with positive, communal experiences .

However, the White House’s attempt to leverage the song’s viral status by pairing it with images of forced deportations marked a dramatic and, for many, deeply troubling shift in tone. The use of the phrase “Nothing beats it!” in the context of ICE operations was widely perceived as flippant and insensitive to the real-life consequences faced by those being deported.

In a statement posted to her Instagram account, Jess Glynne condemned the White House’s use of her music, writing, “This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity and spreading positivity – never about division or hate” . Her response was echoed by Zoe Lister, the actor who voices the “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” tagline in the original campaign, who also expressed dismay at the video’s message .

Glynne’s remarks have resonated strongly within the LGBTQ+ community, where her music has long been celebrated for its affirming messages of connection and acceptance. Many LGBTQ+ fans and advocates noted that the co-opting of an anthem associated with pride and inclusion for a government campaign about forced removal and family separation was especially hurtful.

The backlash from LGBTQ+ organizations was immediate and vocal. Advocates pointed out that immigrant communities, including LGBTQ+ migrants, are disproportionately vulnerable to the harms of deportation policies. For many queer and transgender people, deportation can mean being sent back to countries where they face heightened risks of discrimination, violence, or lack of access to essential healthcare .

Several LGBTQ+ rights groups called for greater sensitivity and accountability from government officials in their public messaging. They urged for an end to the politicization of cultural touchstones—like music that holds special meaning within marginalized communities—in service of policies that may cause direct harm.

The incident has also reignited conversations about the use of creative works in political messaging without the explicit consent of their creators. While public figures and officials often draw on popular culture for communication strategies, there is a growing recognition of the ethical implications when the original message of an artwork is distorted or used in support of causes antithetical to the artist’s intent .

In the case of “Hold My Hand,” Glynne’s clear and public repudiation of the White House’s actions has amplified the call for respect and dialogue between policymakers and artists—particularly when cultural works with significance in LGBTQ+ spaces are involved.

As the controversy continues to unfold, calls for the White House to remove the video and issue an apology have intensified. Activists are also urging for broader reforms, including a halt to the use of music and other creative content in government communications without the express permission of artists, especially when such content is likely to cause harm or distress to marginalized groups.

For now, Jess Glynne’s stand serves as a reminder of the power of music to unite—and the responsibility that comes with its use. As Glynne herself wrote, her intention has always been to “spread positivity”—a message echoed by many in the LGBTQ+ community who continue to advocate for respect, dignity, and love in all spheres of public life .