Summary: Kenny Loggins has publicly condemned the unauthorized use of his iconic song “Danger Zone” in a recent AI-generated video shared by former President Trump. The video, depicting Trump dropping a brown substance on protesters, has sparked controversy, with Loggins urging for his music to be removed and emphasizing unity over division.
Kenny Loggins Speaks Out Against Unauthorized Use of ‘Danger Zone’
A few days ago, former President Trump posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting him flying over the recent “No Kings” protests and dropping what appears to be a brown substance onto protesters. The video featured Kenny Loggins’ classic hit “Danger Zone,” famously known from the movie Top Gun. Upon learning about this, Loggins expressed his disapproval.
In an interview with NPR, Loggins stated, “This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’ Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately.”
He added, “I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us. Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together. We’re all Americans, and we’re all patriotic. There is no ‘us and them’ — that’s not who we are, nor is it what we should be. It’s all of us. We’re in this together, and it is my hope that we can embrace music as a way of celebrating and uniting each and every one of us.”
The Controversial AI-Generated Video
The video was shared amid widespread peaceful protests against Trump’s policies. The brown substance Trump appears to be dropping has been described variously by media outlets: NPR called it “sludgy brown material,” The Guardian referred to it as “sludge,” while 404 Media bluntly described it as “poop,” stating, “It’s shit. It’s diarrhea, and in reposting it, it’s clear enough to me that Trump is fantasizing about doing a carpet-bomb dookie on the people he put his hand on a bible and swore to serve nine months ago.” Politico also described it as a “poop-bombing” video. Regardless of the terminology, the content is undeniably gross, and Loggins wants no association with it.
Artists Push Back Against Unauthorized Use of Their Work
This incident is part of a broader pattern where the Trump administration has used media from artists and celebrities without permission, leading to public objections. Just last month, comedian Theo Von requested the Department of Homeland Security remove a clip of him from a pro-deportation video. Similarly, numerous musicians, including ABBA, The Rolling Stones, and The Village People, have asked Trump to stop using their music.
As of now, Mr. Loggins has not responded to further requests for comment.
White House Responds with a Meme
In response to inquiries, the White House replied with a screenshot from Top Gun featuring meme text that reads, “I FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED,” a playful nod to a famous quote from the film.