\n
The estate of Michael Jackson is condemning rapper Sexyy Red for what it calls the unauthorized use of the late pop icon\u2019s hit song \u201cBeat It\u201d in a newly released track.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued this week, representatives for the estate said they were \u201cdeeply disappointed\u201d by the use of elements from \u201cBeat It,\u201d one of Jackson\u2019s signature songs from the blockbuster 1982 album Thriller.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael Jackson\u2019s music is protected by copyright and by a legacy that is carefully managed to honor his artistic vision,\u201d the statement read. \u201cThe unauthorized sampling and alteration of \u2018Beat It\u2019 undermines that legacy and violates the rights of the Estate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representatives for Sexyy Red did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\nEstate Signals Possible Legal Action<\/h2>\n \u201cBeat It\u201d was originally released in 1983 and became one of Jackson\u2019s defining crossover hits. The track blended pop and rock, and featured a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. It helped propel \u201cThriller\u201d to become one of the best-selling albums of all time.<\/p>\n
The estate emphasized that it has \u201czero tolerance\u201d for what it described as unlicensed uses of Jackson\u2019s recordings.<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\n\u201cWe are reviewing all available legal remedies,\u201d the statement said. \u201cWe will take appropriate action to protect Michael\u2019s intellectual property and preserve the integrity of his work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Music industry attorneys say disputes over sampling are common in hip-hop and pop music. Artists typically must secure clearance for both the underlying composition and the master recording before releasing a song that incorporates recognizable elements.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you use a well-known hook or instrumental from a global hit like \u2018Beat It,\u2019 clearance is not optional,\u201d said one Los Angeles-based entertainment lawyer familiar with music licensing practices. \u201cFailure to obtain permission can result in significant legal exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\nProtecting a Cultural Legacy<\/h2>\n Since Jackson\u2019s death in 2009, his estate has tightly controlled licensing deals and commercial uses of his catalog. The estate has overseen reissues, documentaries and stage productions, including the Broadway musical MJ the Musical.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael\u2019s catalog is among the most valuable in music history,\u201d the estate\u2019s statement said. \u201cEvery decision we make is guided by preserving his artistry and ensuring that future generations experience his work as intended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\nJackson\u2019s influence remains strong across genres, from pop and R&B to hip-hop. Many contemporary artists cite him as an inspiration, and his songs continue to chart decades after their release.<\/p>\n
The estate made clear that admiration does not replace authorization.<\/p>\n
\u201cRespect for Michael\u2019s legacy requires more than acknowledgment,\u201d the statement concluded. \u201cIt requires adherence to the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of Friday, the disputed track remained available on major streaming platforms. It was unclear whether the estate had formally filed a lawsuit or issued takedown notices.<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.wbls.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The estate of Michael Jackson is condemning rapper Sexyy Red for what it calls the unauthorized use of the late pop icon\u2019s hit song \u201cBeat It\u201d in a newly released track. In a statement issued this week, representatives for the estate said they were \u201cdeeply disappointed\u201d by the use of elements from \u201cBeat It,\u201d one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2280021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[22367,304696],"class_list":["post-2280020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-celebrity","tag-michael-jackson"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Michael-Jackson-Estate-Slams-Rapper-Sexy-Redds-Use-of-Beat.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2280020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2280020"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2280020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2280022,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2280020\/revisions\/2280022"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2280021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2280020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2280020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2280020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}