The Rise of the Jet2holidays Phenomenon
The meme originated from Jet2holidays’ infectiously upbeat commercial, voiced by British actress Zoë Lister and set to Jess Glynne’s hit song “Hold My Hand.” Its signature lines—”nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” and “£50 per person…that’s £200 off for a family of four”—quickly flooded TikTok. Users globally adapted the audio for comedic clips of vacation mishaps, from collapsed tents to sunburn disasters. Even celebrities like Jeff Goldblum joined the trend, while Jet2 leveraged its popularity at events like Leeds Pride, where drag performers waved “Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” signs alongside Lister.
A Tone-Deaf Political Pivot
On Wednesday, the Trump campaign’s social media accounts co-opted the meme in a video showcasing deportation flights. Text overlays boasted “DEPORTATION FLIGHTS” while the Jet2 jingle played. The juxtaposition of the cheerful tune with images of detained migrants and deportation statistics struck viewers as jarringly callous. Social media erupted, with users on X calling the post “vile” and “shameful.” Immigration advocate Carlos García tweeted: “Using a holiday meme to sanitize human suffering? This isn’t clever—it’s cruel.” The video was later deleted amid mounting criticism.
Creator Backlash and Ethical Questions
Zoë Lister, the voice behind the original ad, swiftly responded on Instagram Stories: “Mortified to find a clip I voiced being used to promote such inhumane practices. This was done without my consent.” Her statement amplified ethical concerns about repurposing cultural content for political propaganda. Dr. Emily Parker, media ethics scholar at Stanford University, noted: “Memes thrive on context collapse, but weaponizing them for policies that traumatize communities crosses a line. It trivializes real human crises” (Stanford Media Ethics Report, 2025). Jet2holidays has not publicly commented on the incident.
The administration’s attempt to cloak harsh policy in internet humor didn’t just misfire—it revealed a disturbing disconnect between political messaging and human dignity. As memes increasingly infiltrate political discourse, this controversy underscores a critical question: When does satire become complicity? Demand accountability from leaders who turn trauma into trending content.
Must Know
Q: What is the Jet2holidays meme?
A: It’s a viral audio clip from a British travel ad featuring Zoë Lister’s narration and Jess Glynne’s song. TikTok users popularized it for comedic vacation-fail videos.
Q: How did the Trump administration use the meme?
A: They paired the upbeat Jet2holidays jingle with footage of deportation flights in a social media video, drawing widespread condemnation.
Q: How did Zoë Lister respond?
A: Lister called the use “mortifying” and clarified it was unauthorized. Her Instagram statement emphasized the meme’s misalignment with deportation policies.
Q: Why are critics calling this unethical?
A: Experts argue using lighthearted content to promote traumatic events like deportations sanitizes suffering and exploits internet culture for propaganda.
Q: Has Jet2holidays addressed the controversy?
A: As of publication, Jet2holidays has not issued a public statement regarding the political use of their ad.
