Jet2holidays has criticised the White House for hopping on a TikTok trend and using its popular jingle and advert voiceover on a video depicting migrants being deported from the US.
In a statement released this afternoon, a Jet2holidays spokesperson clarified that the White House video, posted on X, was not being endorsed by the travel giant.
Earlier, the company had said it wouldn’t be commenting on the video, which uses the popular Jet2holidays advert, with the hit Hold My Hand and the voiceover ‘nothing beats a Jet2 holiday’ over footage of people in handcuffs being walked by immigration officers to a waiting plane.
The caption on the White House video says: “When ICE (US immigration office) books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!”
The White House was capitalising on a TikTok trend over the summer, where users have been adding the uplifting Jet2holidays ad to videos of holiday or lifestyle fails, such as one of a woman on a rollercoaster who gets hit in the chest by a seagull.
However, Jess Glynne, who sings the hit Hold My Hand, said she felt sick that her song had been used by the White House to promote deportations.
Jet2 has since released the following statement: “Our branding has become something of a viral phenomenon this summer and we are pleased to see how many people have used it in good humour. This has put a smile on many people’s faces, just like our holidays do.
“We are of course aware of a post from the White House social media account. This is not endorsed by us in any way, and we are very disappointed to see our brand being used to promote Government policy such as this.”
