The Pokémon Company has issued a statement following the release of a video by the White House that features Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests set to the Pokémon anime theme song. The video, titled “Gotta Catch ‘Em All,” was shared on TikTok via the official White House account and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) X (formerly Twitter) account earlier this week.
Footage of ICE officers making arrests was juxtaposed with scenes of Pokémon protagonist Ash Ketchum tossing a Poké Ball, culminating in a series of customized Pokémon cards displaying images of the arrested individuals alongside their supposed offenses. As of now, the video has garnered nearly 70 million views on X and 8.2 million views on TikTok.
Many Pokémon fans expressed outrage over the video, urging The Pokémon Company to take legal action against the U.S. government. In response, the company clarified its stance in a statement to Variety, asserting, “We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand. Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.”
The statement followed comments from comedian Theo Von, who addressed the DHS after they used one of his audio clips in a now-deleted deportation video. Von stated, “Yoo DHS, I didn’t approve to be used in this. I know you know my address so send a check. And please take this down and keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos.”
This incident is not isolated. Last month, an ICE video featuring Jay-Z’s 2003 song “Public Service Announcement” faced a copyright takedown. Additionally, the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club issued a cease-and-desist notice to the DHS after their music was featured in a recruitment video, ending their statement on a provocative note.
Several artists have previously taken action against the use of their music by government entities, including instances involving former President Donald Trump, who faced legal challenges over unapproved use of songs by various artists during his campaign events.
There has also been growing unrest among artists and the public against ICE and the DHS. A campaign calling for the abolition of ICE has gained support from over 100 artists. Notably, performers like Bad Bunny have expressed concerns about ICE’s actions, even opting out of performing in the U.S. due to fears of raids.
