Trump played ‘Happy’ hours after Pittsburgh massacre; Pharrell Williams sends cease-and-desist order
Pharrell Williams is not “happy” with President Trump. The singer and producer’s lawyer sent the president a cease-and-desist letter on Monday, objecting to the use of the song “Happy” at a recent Trump rally, according The Hollywood Reporter.
The president played Williams’ hit song at a political event on Saturday, just hours after a gunman opened fire at Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 and wounding at least six others. Mr. Trump spoke at a Future Farmers of America event in Indiana before flying on to a campaign-style rally in Illinois that night. He said he considered cancelling his appearance at the Illinois rally following the massacre but decided to go ahead as planned.
“I will have a different tone tonight,” Mr. Trump told reporters ahead of the nighttime rally. Williams and his lawyer took note of the circumstances and the use of the song “Happy.”
“On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged ‘nationalist,’ you played his song ‘Happy’ to a crowd at a political event in Indiana,” writes attorney Howard King a letter to Mr. Trump, obtained by Hollywood Reporter. “There was nothing ‘happy’ about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose.” [Continue reading…]