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The family of the late singer Isaac Hayes has threatened to sue Donald Trump. Furthermore, the family is alleging that Trump is using Hayes’ music for his political campaign without their authorization.
According to USA Today, Isaac Hayes III, Isaac Hayes’ son, took to Instagram on Saturday, August 10, to share a screenshot of a tweet he posted. The date also marked the 16th anniversary of his father’s passing.
In the message, Hayes III revealed that his family has “repeatedly” asked Trump, “the RNC, and his representatives” to refrain from using his father’s song, ‘Hold On, I’m Coming,’ during rallies.
“…but yet again, in Montana, they used it,” Hayes III wrote.
In his Instagram caption, Hayes III noted Trump’s “lack of integrity and class” for refusing to listen to the family’s wishes. Additionally, Hayes III explained that Trump’s “behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to put an end to it.“
“We stand in solidarity with all musicians whose work has been co-opted without consent by divisive political campaigns. A musical performers art is a reflection of their soul, not a tool for promoting hatred or bigotry,” Hayes III wrote while concluding his message. “It’s time for all artists to unite and demand respect for their creative legacies.”
On Sunday, August 11, Hayes III returned to Instagram to share a screenshot of a “confidential” notice of copyright infringement reportedly sent to Trump. The notice demanded Trump “cease” the continued infringement of Hayes’ song by Friday, August 16.
Furthermore, among other demands, the notice also ordered Trump to pay the family $3 million.
“…which is a very discounted fee for the normal license fee associated with this many multiple uses,” the notice reads. “The normal fee for these infringements will be 10 times as much if we litigate, starting at $150,000 per use.”
In the caption of his post, Hayes III asserted that by that date, Trump’s campaign had used his father’s song 134 times. Additionally, he noted that Trump’s “failure to comply will result in further legal action.”
Hayes III reportedly spoke with The Hollywood Reporter for a report published on Monday, August 12. The singer’s son told the outlet that he remembers Trump using the song at a 2022 National Rifle Association rally. According to Hayes, the rally occurred weeks after the Uvalde school mass shooting.
“I was pissed,” Hayes reportedly explained of his reaction. “There’s just been a mass shooting. So why are we using it at the NRA convention? I wanted to take legal action because Trump has made statements against women, and here is a man who has been convicted of sexual abuse. I’m a brother to seven sisters, and I don’t want anybody to think of ‘Hold On’ and think of Donald Trump.”
According to the outlet, Hayes III seems confident that Trump will cease using his father’s material.
“I expect a full takedown of the song and the amount that was requested,” Hayes told the outlet. “And never, never use that song again.”
The family of Isaac Hayes isn’t the only entity that issued a public statement to Trump about his use of their material. According to CBS News, representatives for Celine Dion also called Trump out for his use of her hit single, ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ on Saturday, August 10.
In addition to using ‘Hold On, I’m Coming,’ Trump reportedly played Dion’s song during his recent rally in Montana.
“…In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” their message reads.
According to the outlet, additional artists, such as the Rolling Stones and Adele, have requested that Trump refrain from using their music during his political initiatives.
