Music
31 Jul 25

Jess Glynne slams White House for using her viral "Jet2 holiday" song to promote ICE deportations

Jess Glynne supporting Justin Timberlake at Malahide Castle on June 28th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

"My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity — never about division or hate," Glynne said.

English pop singer Jess Glynne has spoken out after the White House used her song 'Hold My Hand' in social media posts promoting deportations.

'Hold My Hand' is included in the recently viral "nothing beats a Jet2 holiday" audio on TikTok, in which a vacation deal offered by the Jet2 airline is advertised with the song in the background. The audio is typically used in videos of lighthearted vacation mishaps.

On Tuesday night, the official White House social media accounts posted a video showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) forcing detainees in shackles onto a plane to be deported. The caption read, "When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation."

Glynne responded to the video on her Instagram story yesterday, writing that it sickened her to see the Trump administration use her song for such a post.

"This post honestly makes me sick," Glynne said.

"My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity — never about division or hate."

When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. ✈️🎶

Nothing beats it! pic.twitter.com/hlLapr9QsE

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 29, 2025

Many comments on the White House posts highlight concerns about the legality of using the advert to promote ICE deportations, with some users on X tagging Jet2 and asking if the airline plans to take legal action.

At the time of writing, Jet2 has not responded to the White House posts.

Glynne is the first and only British female musician to achieve seven UK Number 1 singles. She gained recognition in 2014 after lending her vocals to Clean Bandit’s 2014 ‘Rather Be,' which won her a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. Her music has since received over 10 billion streams.

Last month, Glynne played Dublin's Malahide Castle as support for Justin Timberlake.

'Hold My Hand' debuted at number 1 on singles charts and remained at the top for three straight weeks after its release in 2015. The "nothing beats a Jet2 holiday" audio has over 1.5 million posts on TikTok.