Pharrell Williams sends Donald Trump cease and desist letter over use of hit song 'Happy' after Pittsburgh shooting

Pharrell Williams has issued a cease and desist letter to the White House
Getty Images

Pharrell Williams has sent Donald Trump a legal challenge over his use of the song Happy on the day of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre.

The pop star is furious that Mr Trump used his hit song from the film Despicable Me 2 at a political campaign rally on the same day that 11 people were killed.

He has now sent a cease-and-desist legal letter to the White House warning the president not to play Happy again.

“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,” wrote Mr Williams’ lawyer Howard E. King.

Hours after the mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Mr Trump played Pharrell's Happy during a rally in Indiana
EPA

“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,” he added.

“Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music.

"The use of Happy without permission constitutes copyright infringement.”

Mr Trump did acknowledge the shooting when he spoke at the political rally held at an aircraft hangar in Murphysboro, Indiana, on Saturday, saying: “This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe and frankly something that is unimaginable.

"Our nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief.”

The president said he had considered cancelling the even because he was having a “bad hair day.”

Robert Bowers, 46, who is accused of murdering 11 people ranging in age from 54 to 97 at the Tree of Life Synagogue could face the death penalty if he is convicted.

It’s not the first time Mr Trump’s choice of music at his events has faced opposition from pop artists.

Adele, Earth, Wind & Fire, Queen and Steven Tyler have all taken issue with his use of their songs

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