The White House crossed a line many thought was untouchable — using a cheerful British vacation ad to soundtrack a video of people in handcuffs being loaded onto deportation flights. On July 28, 2025, the executive office of former President Donald J. Trump released a chilling propaganda piece that synced footage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers escorting non-citizens onto Boeing 737s with the upbeat audio from Jet2holidays’ 2022 commercial. The result? A viral backlash that turned into a full-blown ethical and legal firestorm — and a rare public rebuke from a voiceover artist who never asked to be part of this.
When Joy Became a Weapon
The video, posted at 10:15 a.m. EDT and deleted 36 hours later, wasn’t subtle. It opened with smiling families waving from a Mediterranean beach — the original Jet2holidays footage — then cut abruptly to shackled individuals being marched through airport corridors, their faces obscured, their dignity stripped. The soundtrack? Jess Glynne’s soaring 2015 hit ‘Hold My Hand,’ layered over the unmistakable voice of British voiceover artist Zoe Lister, whose calm, warm delivery had sold holidays to millions across the UK. But here, it was weaponized. The contrast was grotesque. Viewers didn’t just notice — they recoiled.Within hours, social media exploded. On TikTok, users edited the video side-by-side with the original ad. On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like #VoiceoverWar and #NotMyHoliday trended globally. One tweet from a former immigration lawyer in Detroit simply read: ‘You don’t turn compassion into a punchline. You don’t turn a lullaby into a deportation cue.’
The Voice Behind the Meme Speaks Out
Zoe Lister, 38, didn’t wait for the media to react. On July 29, 2025, at 14:30 BST, she posted directly to her 287,000 Instagram followers: ‘What can be done about @WhiteHouse using @Jet2Pics sound and my voiceover to promote their nasty agenda?’ The post, a single image of her holding a coffee mug with the caption ‘I didn’t sign up for this,’ was shared over 1.2 million times in 24 hours.Her voice — the same one that had made people dream of Malaga sunsets and Barcelona tapas — was now being used to normalize state coercion. ‘I’ve done over 200 commercials,’ she later told a reporter from The Guardian. ‘I’ve done ads for banks, supermarkets, even a government health campaign. But this? This is the first time I’ve felt like my work was used to dehumanize people.’
Her reaction wasn’t just emotional — it was legal. Lister confirmed she’d retained Harbottle & Lewis LLP, a London-based media law firm, to pursue claims under the U.K. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Her voice, recorded in a studio in Islington, wasn’t just borrowed — it was repurposed without consent, and potentially for commercial gain, since the video was used to promote policy.
Who Owns the Sound? The Legal Quagmire
The legal complexity runs deep. The original Jet2holidays commercial, produced by MC2 in Manchester and filmed by Riff Raff Films in London, was a licensed production. Jet2holidays Limited, headquartered in Leeds, West Yorkshire, holds the rights to the commercial’s audio track — including Lister’s voiceover and Glynne’s recording. But the White House didn’t just copy the audio. They repurposed it to serve a political agenda, a move that likely violates Section 106 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.Legal experts at Covington & Burling LLP in New York confirmed that the White House’s use of the recording without licensing from Warner Music Group (which owns Glynne’s master) or Jet2holidays constitutes infringement. ‘There’s no First Amendment shield here,’ said partner Sarah J. Councilman. ‘You can’t take someone’s art, twist its meaning, and use it to promote state power — even if you’re the government.’
Jet2holidays Limited, the British tour operator that’s operated since 2002 under parent company Dart Group PLC, had no prior knowledge of the video’s creation. On July 30, 2025, their corporate communications director, Paul Atkinson, emailed The Independent: ‘The matter is under urgent legal review.’ DLA Piper UK LLP, their solicitors, are now preparing a cease-and-desist letter — and possibly a lawsuit — for unauthorized use of their intellectual property.
Why This Matters Beyond Copyright
This isn’t just about who owns a voice or a song. It’s about the erosion of cultural trust. The Jet2holidays ad was a cultural artifact — a moment of collective joy during post-pandemic recovery. Using it to promote deportations isn’t just tasteless. It’s psychologically manipulative. It takes something that made people feel safe, hopeful, and free — and twists it into a tool of fear.The Trump administration’s immigration record speaks for itself: over a million deportations in FY 2019, the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, family separations. But this video? It didn’t just enforce policy — it sanitized it. It made brutality feel like a soundtrack you’d hear on a playlist while packing your suitcase.
And that’s the real danger. When institutions co-opt cultural symbols meant to uplift, they don’t just break laws — they break the social contract. People begin to distrust not just the message, but the medium. If a vacation ad can be turned into a deportation tool, what’s next? A lullaby for a border wall? A pop song for a detention center?
What’s Next?
The video is gone from official channels, but archived copies live on Truth Social and Gab. The White House has not responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Lister’s legal team is preparing to file in U.K. courts — and potentially seek damages for emotional distress, not just copyright infringement.Jet2holidays has signaled it may seek an injunction to prevent further use. And Jess Glynne? Though she hasn’t spoken publicly, her label, Atlantic Records UK, has quietly contacted Warner Music Group about potential joint action. The song, once a symbol of connection, now hangs in legal limbo — a haunting reminder of how easily art can be hijacked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is using a vacation ad for deportation videos illegal?
Under U.S. copyright law, reproducing a sound recording without permission violates Section 106 of the Copyright Act of 1976. Even if the government is the user, it doesn’t have blanket rights to repurpose commercial content. Jet2holidays and Warner Music Group hold exclusive rights to the audio track, including Zoe Lister’s voiceover and Jess Glynne’s recording — making this a clear case of infringement, regardless of intent.
Who is Zoe Lister, and why does her reaction matter?
Zoe Lister is a British voiceover artist with over 200 commercial credits, including the iconic Jet2holidays campaign. Her voice is legally protected under U.K. law as a performance. By using her voice without consent to promote a politically charged and emotionally charged message, the White House potentially violated her moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 — including the right to object to derogatory treatment of her work.
Has the White House ever used copyrighted material like this before?
Yes — in 2017, the Trump administration used a Coldplay song in a campaign video without permission, leading to a cease-and-desist from the band’s label. But this is the first time a government has repurposed a commercial’s entire audio track — including a voiceover — to promote deportation. The ethical breach is unprecedented, and the legal precedent could set a new standard for how governments handle copyrighted media.
What’s the impact on Jet2holidays and its brand?
Jet2holidays, a trusted UK brand with over 2 million customers annually, now faces reputational damage. While the company didn’t create the video, its association with the meme makes it vulnerable to public backlash. Customers may question whether their holiday ads are being co-opted by political actors. The company’s legal team is now evaluating whether to issue a public statement or file for damages — a move that could cost the White House millions in licensing fees and punitive penalties.
Will Jess Glynne take legal action?
Jess Glynne hasn’t publicly responded, but her record label, Atlantic Records UK, has initiated internal reviews with Warner Music Group. As the original recording artist, she holds rights to her performance. If the White House’s use is deemed commercially exploitative — even indirectly — she could join Lister and Jet2holidays in a joint lawsuit. Given her history of advocating for artists’ rights, legal action is considered highly likely.
Could this lead to new laws protecting voiceovers?
Absolutely. Legal experts are already drafting proposals to extend performer rights under U.S. law to include voiceover artists in commercial contexts. Currently, U.K. law protects voice performances, but the U.S. does not. This incident could become a catalyst for federal legislation — similar to the 2020 ‘Voice Rights Act’ introduced in California — ensuring no government or corporation can use a person’s voice without explicit, written consent.
