JMSN Threatens White House Over 'Love Me' Ad, Targets $2.5 Million Midterm Push
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 30
JMSN Threatens White House Over 'Love Me' Ad, Targets $2.5 Million Midterm Push
2 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 30
Summary
JMSN's lawyers demanded the White House pull "Love Me" from a Trump administration ad and confirm by 5 p.m. ET Thursday that all use has stopped.
The cease-and-desist says the Fox News spot used the song without permission across TV, websites and social media, potentially violating the Lanham Act by implying JMSN endorsed Trump.
JMSN, born Christian Berishaj, said on Instagram he would never license his music for politics and accused Trump's team of skipping any permission request.
The disputed spot is one of three taxpayer-funded ads the administration rolled out before the midterms; AdImpact estimated more than $2.5 million in spending over the past seven days.
Criticism has spread beyond the artist: outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he disliked the ads' messaging and likened their tone to Viktor Orban-style politics.