The family of late R&B legend Isaac Hayes said on Sunday night that they are suing presidential candidate Donald Trump for his unauthorized use of “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign events.
In documents posted to Hayes’ social media accounts, his family demanded that Trump cease playing the song and pay $3 million for its unauthorized use from 2022 to 2024, saying that the copyright has been infringed 134 times. Hayes wrote “Hold On, I’m Coming” for R&B act Sam & Dave and therefore his estate owns the rights.
In the letter, Hayes’ family also asked that all videos featuring Trump using the song be taken down and requested that an official statement is released from Trump’s campaign acknowledging that the Hayes estate has not “authorized, endorsed or permitted” use of the song.
Hayes’ family went on to say that if these demands are not met, they will “take all legal action required to enforce the infringed upon intellectual property rights, including but not limited to sending third party take down requests and/or federal litigation.”
Hayes’ son, Isaac Hayes III, also posted a statement on his social media denouncing Trump’s use of the song. “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,” Hayes III wrote. “This behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to put an end to it.”
Representatives for Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Trump has a long history of musical artists demanding that their songs not be used in association with his campaign. Just two days ago, Celine Dion also took to social media to disavow the use of “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally.
“In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” Dion wrote. “And really, that song?”
