When ICE Needs a Soundtrack, They Steal From Women — Sabrina Carpenter Just Fought Back
On December 2nd, 2025, the White House of the United States of America (yes, the same institution that’s supposed to “uphold democracy and protect civil rights”) logged onto X and dropped what might be the most dystopian piece of propaganda we’ve seen all year. An ICE hype-reel?!?! A montage of marginalized people being slammed to the ground, handcuffed, arrested, and terrorized. And they thought it would be a good idea to package it like a Marvel trailer.
And because this administration has absolutely no shame, they soundtracked their little police-state highlight reel with Sabrina Carpenter’s hit “Manchild.”
But here’s the part nobody saw coming: Sabrina Carpenter dragged the government in broad daylight.
Under the official White House post, Sabrina replied:
And it was perfect. Brutal. Direct. No PR meetings. No “thoughts and prayers.” Just: don’t ever use my art to sell your cruelty.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is somewhere writing a 12-minute metaphor about a bird trapped in a mailbox instead of speaking up against the current administration. take notes, babe.
Let’s be clear: artists rarely call out the U.S. government. It’s risky. It jeopardizes sponsorships, brand deals, and the fragile PR ecosystem built around protecting their megastar image. Most stay quiet because silence is safe.
But Sabrina? She said fuck no.
They’re using chart-topping women as unwilling soundtrack providers for state violence. Like it’s normal. Like ICE hasn’t spent years ripping families apart, traumatizing communities, and operating with almost zero accountability.
This isn’t just a copyright violation.
It’s propaganda laundering through pop music.
The U.S. government keeps hijacking songs from women (Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, now Sabrina) to soundtrack their violence. And when these women speak up, they’re smeared as “slow” or “stupid” by government officials. Notice a pattern?
But Sabrina Carpenter did something artists with far more power (and far fewer excuses) wouldn’t: she stood ten toes down and said, Do not use my voice to justify your inhumane agenda.
This matters!! Culture always shapes politics and when an artist refuses to let the state sanitize brutality with a cute pop beat, that’s resistance.
Thank you, Sabrina, for saying what needed to be said. For refusing to let ICE use your art as a weapon. For doing what household-name superstars won’t. For actually giving a f*ck about the communities affected instead of writing Instagram captions about “being kind.”
If more artists spoke like this, maybe the government would think twice before slapping bubblegum pop over human suffering.
Until then, shoutout to Sabrina Carpenter for doing the work.
Hard Launch stands with her – because the girl has teeth
Written by Emily Ward | December 4, 2025
Photo Cover Curtsey of Universal Music Group
