The estate of the late Sinéad O’Connor has criticised Donald Trump’s election campaign for using Nothing Compares 2 U at his campaign rallies.
In a statement to American outlet Variety, the estate of O’Connor and her record label Chrysalis Records demanded that Trump cease playing the song immediately.
“Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness and decency towards her fellow human beings.; it was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ at his political rallies,” the statement reads.
“It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil.’ As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump, and his associates, Desist from using her music immediately.”
Nothing Compares 2 U was written by Prince, with his estate criticising the Trump campaign for using Purple Rain at his campaign rallies in 2020.
Trump has repeatedly fallen foul of musicians demanding their music not be associated with him, with the likes of Neil Young and R.E.M. also issuing cease-and-desist orders against the former American president after he used their music.
Bruce Springsteen expressed disgust that Ronald Reagan used his track Born In The USA at his rallies in 1984, saying that the former President missed the point of the song and was not supportive of Reagan’s policies.
O’Connor was well-known for her progressive stance on social issues, speaking out in favour of abortion rights and calling for greater support of the LGBTQ+ community.
O’Connor passed away in London last July, with a coroner later ruling that she died of natural causes.