Rufus Wainwright says he is “ashamed” that Trump’s campaign used his “Hallelujah” cover by Leonard Cohen

CNN
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Musician Rufus Wainwright spoke out at a recent event against the use of his famous cover of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah” in Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Wainwright shared a statement on his verified Instagram referencing a Monday campaign roundhouse in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where music was played for an extended period of time – including his 2001 cover of “Hallelujah.”

In the caption of his post on Tuesday, Wainwright wrote: “The song 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth.” It has been a big one for me over the years Honor to be associated with this ode to tolerance. Witnessing Trump and his supporters communicating with this music last night was the height of blasphemy.”

Wainwright, who has dual Canadian and American citizenship, said he supports Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.

Wainwright went on to say that he in no way condoned the song's use and “felt ashamed, but the good part of me hopes that Donald Trump might feel a twinge of remorse if he inhabits the lyrics of Cohen's masterpiece and really listens to it.” .” what he caused. I’m not holding my breath.”

According to the statement, the publisher of the Cohen estate sent the Trump campaign a cease-and-desist letter.

CNN has reached out to the Cohen family and Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung for comment.

This isn't the first time the Trump campaign has used the song. It is also not the first time that the estate of Cohen, who died in 2016, has questioned this use.

In 2020, “Hallelujah” was played repeatedly on the final night of the Republican National Convention, and Cohen's estate said at the time that he had denied permission.

“We are surprised and dismayed that the RNC would proceed with this, knowing that the Cohen Estate has so egregiously politicized the RNC's usage application and their rather brazen attempt to politicize 'Hallelujah,' one of the most important songs in the world.” and exploiting Cohen's song catalog,” said Michelle L. Rice, legal representative of the Cohen estate, in a statement shared with CBS News at the time.

Wainwright and Cohen's estate aren't the first to take issue with the Trump campaign playing their music, either. From Celine Dion and the Foo Fighters to Bruce Springsteen and Prince's estate, numerous artists have objected to the Trump campaign's use of their music over the years.