Over the weekend, Donald Trump held a sparsely-attended campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma that saw the president take the stage as Tom Petty’s 1989 Full Moon Fever song ‘I Won’t Back Down’ played over the speakers.
Now, the late rocker’s family has issued a statement condemning Trump’s use of the track, saying they’ve issued the campaign an official cease and desist notice.
“Trump was is no way the authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,” the statement reads.
“Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.”
Petty’s family continued to distance themselves from the song’s usage at the rally, adding, “We would hate for fans that are marginalized by the administration to think we were complicit in this usage.”
Read the full statement below.
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It’s far from the first time Trump has been lambasted by an artist or their estate for playing their music. R.E.M., Rihanna, Guns n’ Roses, The Rolling Stones and Prince’s estate are among those who’ve spoken out against the Trump campaign’s unauthorised usage of their tracks.
