Pharrell Williams has instructed Donald Trump to stop playing his music at political rallies, after the song Happy was used at an event in Indiana just hours after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
In a cease-and-desist letter from the singer's lawyer, Howard King, it was made clear that permission had not been granted. The letter said: “Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music.”
The letter went on to reference the timing of the rally, stating: “On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged ‘nationalist’, you played his song Happy to a crowd at a political event in Indiana. There was nothing ‘happy’ about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose.”
Mr Trump was criticised for joking about a “bad hair day” in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, though at the Indiana rally he forcefully condemned the attack, calling it “an antisemitic act” and adding: “We just don’t seem to learn from the past.”
Williams’ action follows a similar order in August from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, whose lawyers said that Mr Trump was creating a false impression of consent or endorsement. Other musicians who have barred the president from using their music include Adele, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones and Queen. Michael Stipe of REM said in 2015: “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”
