Tom Petty (Image credit || Douglas Mason/Getty Images)
By Robert Anglen || Arizona Republic
Tom Petty’s heirs are telling Kari Lake to back off from using his anthem “I Won’t Back Down.” Petty died in 2017.
Tom Petty, in his famous rock anthem, vowed never to back down. Now, his heirs are telling Kari Lake to back off from using the song to promote her “failed campaign” for Arizona governor.
Petty’s estate is threatening legal action against Lake for illegally using the song Wednesday in a YouTube video. The video has since been deleted.
“The Tom Petty estate and our partners were shocked to find out that Tom’s song ‘I Won’t Back Down’ was stolen and used without permission or a license to promote Kari Lake’s failed campaign,” his heirs and partners said in a Twitter post Thursday.
“This is illegal,” they said in the post. “We are exploring all of our legal options to stop this unauthorized use and to prohibit future misappropriations of Tom’s beloved anthem. @KariLake.”
Lake, her campaign and her lawyer did not respond Friday to interview requests.
Petty fans had plenty to say, with thousands responding on Twitter.
“There’s no way in hell Tom Petty would approve of YOU using his music. RIP @tompetty,” one person Called Justice Matters said.
“That is appalling!” Laddie Watson tweeted. “An example of the lack of integrity in a campaign for governor. Thank you for letting us know about this. I love that song and adore Tom Petty. Go get ’em! Grrrr…”
