Sama’ Abdulhadi slams Kamala Harris over unauthorised use of likeness in political ad

Sama’ Abdulhadi has criticised US presidential candidate and sitting Vice President Kamala Harris over the "unauthorised" use of her image in a campaign ad.

The Palestinian DJ published a statement on Instagram today (October 22) captioned: "I am Sama’ Abdulhadi, and I did not approve this message! I don’t endorse any US political party."

The footage, which appears to have been taken during Abdulhadi's set at Movement festival, is part of an ad published on YouTube by the Harris-Waltz campaign titled Trump vs Detroit.

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"The use of this footage was unauthorised and done without my consent," Abdulhadi's statement reads, adding that any intended implication that she endorses Harris is "totally and utterly false."

"It is deeply offensive to my social, moral and political beliefs and is misleading political advertising by VP Harris's campaign," she adds.

Abdulhadi confirmed that she is "taking the necessary legal steps" to ensure the ad featuring her is taken down in order to "dispel any notion of an association" between herself and Harris.

Sama’ Abdulhadi has been a vocal opponent of the US government's complicity in violence perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and earlier this month published a statement calling on the electronic music community to "boycott zionism."

A recent UK tribunal ruled that "anti-zionism" is a belief that is “worthy of respect in a democratic society."

In June, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the Biden-Harris administration's continued military support of Israel constitutes "complicity in genocide" as defined by the Genocide Convention.

Mixmag has contacted representatives for the Harris-Waltz presidential campaign for comment

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter