"Isn’t voting part of the democratic process?" — Isaac Hayes III calls out Trump supporters who are angry he voted early
Isaac Hayes III recently responded to the backlash he faced from Trump supporters after he announced that he voted early. On October 15, 2024, the record producer uploaded a video on X telling his followers he was a part of the first day of early voting in Georgia.
Later that same day, Isaac Hayes III put up a post questioning why so many Trump supporters seemed angry that he voted early:
"Why so many of you Trump people mad I early voted? Isn’t voting part of the democratic process? Are you all worried cause 300,000 people came out and voted early on the first day shattering the previous record by over 150%? Why y’all so mad? Lol."
While the presidential election is slated for November 5, voting commenced as early as September 11 in states like Alabama, which started mailing ballots to eligible voters who would be occupied on election day.
Isaac Hayes III sued Trump for using his father's song without permission
Isaac Hayes III recently sued Trump for using his late father Isaac Lee Hayes' written song, Hold On, I'm Coming, in his rallies without permission. According to the suit filed in August 2024, the 1966 track was played before and after the former president's speeches between 2022 and 2024 in at least 134 instances.
Hayes also requested a $3 million settlement in licensing fees for the song. He added that if the lawsuit proceeded, Trump's team would be looking at a fine of $150,000 per use, resulting in a $20 million settlement.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the song was first played at the 2022 National Rifle Association rally. The rally followed the Uvalde school shooting, which left 19 children dead.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Isaac Hayes III said he was "pissed" the song was used at an NRA convention held days after a school shooting. He stated:
“I was pissed. 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 s*xual abuse. I’m a brother to seven sisters, and I don’t want anybody to think of ‘Hold On’ and think of Donald Trump."
In September, a US judge issued an order to stop the Republican candidate's team from using the song. The court case is yet to be settled, but Isaac Hayes III revealed that the ruling left him happy, adding that his late father would not have endorsed Trump.
Other musicians who have denounced Trump playing their songs at rallies
Isaac Hayes III is not the only musician who denounced their association with Trump after he played one of their songs at rallies. Artists like Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Beyoncé, and Abba have raised issues about Trump's team using their songs.
In August, Celine Dion and her team condoned Trump using My Heart Will Go On at a campaign event, adding that the singer did not endorse the former president. That same month, Abba objected to several of their songs being played without permission at another campaign rally. In a statement via Reuters, the band said:
"Together with the members of Abba, we have discovered that videos have been released where Abba's music has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately removed and taken down."
Foo Fighters also took to social media to add that they did not give Trump's team permission to play their song My Hero during an event. However, Trump's team claimed they had permission.
In August, Beyoncé blocked Trump's team from using her song Freedom, after the latter's spokesperson uploaded a video with the track playing in the background without proper licensing. This came after the singer permitted Kamala Harris to use the track in her campaign.
Read more: "That was me for like an hour" — Internet reacts to Chris Hayes laughing at Trump playing music for 39 minutes at his Town Hall
