The Hayes family is turning up the legal heat on former President Donald Trump. Isaac Hayes Enterprises, represented by their attorney, James Walker, has issued a cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign, concerning the unauthorized use of the song "Hold On I'm Coming" during Trump's rallies. Moreover, Trump is being sued for copyright infringement to the tune of at least $3 million, as detailed in an article from WREG.
Isaac Hayes III, son of the legendary R&B artist, posted on Instagram a firm stance against the misuse of his father's legacy. "Donald Trump epitomizes a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continuous use of my father's music without permission but also through his history of sexual abuse against women and his racist rhetoric," he stated, according to a report by USA Today. The family asserts that the song was used in a whopping 134 cases of copyright infringement between 2022 and 2024, and should a resolution not be met, they will pursue damages of $150,000 per use.
Notably, David Porter, co-writer of the song alongside Hayes, also expressed his discontent, tweeting, "I did not and would NOT approve of them using the song for any of his purposes!" The fallout comes after the song's use at politically charged events such as the NRA Convention, which sparked immediate backlash from the Hayes estate and Porter in light of the tragic Uvalde school shooting, as reported by WREG.
It appears the Trump campaign's playlist is dwindling rapidly, with Céline Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" also being played at a recent Montana rally, prompting a swift dissociation from the singer. "In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use," stated her representative, as per The Guardian.
