Jet2 has responded after singer Jess Glynne said she 'felt sick' over the White House using her song in a deportation video. The video, posted on X on Wednesday (July 30), showed handcuffed individuals being escorted by ICE onto a GlobalX flight, with Glynne's hit 'Hold My Hand' playing in the background.
The song, originally released in 2015, has gone viral in recent weeks after being used in a Jet2 advert. The White House captioned the post: 'When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!' The original ad features a voiceover saying 'nothing beats a Jet2holiday, and right now you can save £50 per person'.
Taking to Instagram, Glynne said: 'This post honestly makes me feel sick. My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate.' Hours later, a Jet2 spokesperson told PA: 'Our branding has become something of a viral phenomenon this summer... We are of course aware of a post from the White House social media account. This is not endorsed by us in any way, and we are very disappointed to see our brand being used to promote government policy such as this.'
Earlier this month, Glynne met voiceover star Zoe Lister on Capital Breakfast to recreate the advert live. She said: 'It's mad because I feel like when I do my gigs... I feel like they're waiting for me to go "nothing beats a Jet2 holiday". It is tempting but I need to take this seriously, it can't be a joke.'
Since Donald Trump's second presidency, the US has intensified immigration enforcement and expanded its third-country deportation programme.
