Radiohead Fires Back at ICE Over Unauthorized 'Let Down' Use

Radiohead has condemned the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement for using an unauthorized choral cover of their 1997 track 'Let Down' in an Instagram video. The agency, which operates the ICE social media account, paired the song from the band's landmark album 'OK Computer' with imagery and text discussing immigration enforcement.

The video included portions of the song's lyrics—"You know where you are with / Floor collapses, floating / Bouncing back / And one day I am gonna grow wings"—over content claiming that "thousands of American families have been torn apart because of criminal illegal alien violence."

In a blunt response, the Oxford electronic outfit made their position clear. "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…" the band stated.

'Let Down' experienced an unexpected resurgence on TikTok late last year. Singer Thom Yorke revealed to The Sunday Times that the song's viral moment struck him as jarring, noting he had fought hard during the 'OK Computer' sessions to exclude it from the record. "Ed O'Brien was, like, 'If it's not, I'm leaving'," Yorke explained, adding that he remained taken aback by teenagers embracing the track. "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!'" Guitarist Ed O'Brien corroborated the story.

Drummer Philip Selway commented on the band's appeal across age groups, recalling a recent moment at a train station where schoolboys played 'Everything In Its Right Place' from the band's 'Kid A' album before switching to Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' The contrast underscored how Radiohead's catalogue continues to resonate with younger listeners.

Radiohead join a growing roster of artists objecting to ICE's use of their work. In November, Olivia Rodrigo demanded that ICE cease using her song 'All-American Bitch' after the agency included it in footage of detention operations. "Don't ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda," she wrote in a since-deleted comment.

The backlash intensified following the deaths of two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, in January at the hands of ICE agents. Bruce Springsteen has emerged as a particularly vocal critic, calling for ICE to "get the fuck out of Minneapolis" and permitting his track 'Born In The USA' to be used in anti-ICE messaging. The folk-rock legend debuted a protest song called 'Streets Of Minneapolis' during a Tom Morello benefit show.

Artists including Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Green Day, Neil Young, Moby, Zara Larsson, Joe Keery, Duran Duran, Dave Matthews, and others have publicly objected to ICE's activities in recent weeks.

In a separate matter, Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson attempted to remove their 'Phantom Thread' score from a Melania Trump documentary, but producer Marc Beckman rejected the request, claiming the music would remain "in the film forever."

The band recently established a new private limited company, signaling potential plans ahead.