Radiohead has issued a statement condemning the unauthorised use of a cover of their song ‘Let Down’ in a video by the Department of Homeland Security, which runs ICE.
A choral version of the song, which appears on the band’s classic 1997 album ‘OK Computer’, plays in the background of an Instagram video displaying individuals who it insinuates have been harmed in some ways by immigrants. It ends with the phrase ‘This Is Our Why’.
The following lyrics can be heard: “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 below the video reads: “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 were quick to decry the authority’s use of the song. 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
‘Let Down’ went viral on TikTok late last year, which vocalist Thom Yorke told The Sunday Times, he found “especially bizarre” because “I fought tooth and nail for it not to be on the record, but Ed O’Brien was, like, ‘If it’s not, I’m leaving.’”
Despite that, he was surprised by the reaction on TikTok. “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.
Drummer Philip Selway also opened up about his own experience of cross-generational appreciation for the band.
“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.”
This is not the first time an artist has condemned ICE’s unauthorised use of their music. In November, Olivia Rodrigo called out the organisation for using a section of her song ‘All-American Bitch’ in a video depicting ICE officers forcibly tackling and 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, Dave Matthews and more.
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.
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