Rufus Wainwright says he was 鈥渉orrified鈥� to learn that Donald Trump played his cover version of 鈥淗allelujah鈥� during a presidential campaign event in Pennsylvania on Monday.
The Canadian singer issued a statement saying Trump鈥檚 decision to use the Leonard Cohen classic was the 鈥渉eight of blasphemy.鈥�
Wainwright鈥檚 representatives noted that the publishing company for Cohen鈥檚 estate also sent a cease-and-desist order to Trump鈥檚 campaign.
鈥淗allelujah鈥� was one of many songs played during the former U.S. president鈥檚 town hall meeting in Oaks, near Philadelphia.
High temperatures in the room led to two medical emergencies and organizers paused the discussion for about half an hour of music.
Wainwright, a vocal supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, joins a long list of musicians who鈥檝e objected to Trump playing their music at his rallies.
Neither the Trump campaign nor Wainwright responded to requests for comment.
In August, Celine Dion issued a statement saying she never authorized Trump鈥檚 use of a video featuring her performing 鈥淢y Heart Will Go On鈥� during a gathering of his supporters while Beyonc茅 demanded his team pull down a video that used her song 鈥淔reedom,鈥� which she has authorized for the Harris campaign.
Wainwright had a close relationship with Cohen before his death in 2016. The musician and Cohen鈥檚 daughter Lorca had a child together via artificial insemination and raised their daughter jointly with Wainwright鈥檚 husband.
Wainwright described 鈥淗allelujah鈥� as 鈥渁n anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e been supremely honoured over the years to be connected with this ode to tolerance,鈥� he said in his statement.
鈥淲itnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy. Of course, I in no way condone this and was mortified, but the good in me hopes that perhaps in inhabiting and really listening to the lyrics of Cohen鈥檚 masterpiece, Donald Trump just might experience a hint of remorse over what he鈥檚 caused. I鈥檓 not holding my breath.鈥�
