On Sept. 24, the United Nations headquarters in New York City hosted a general assembly. Among the invited members was the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netenyahu. Netenyahu has become an incredibly inflammatory political figure; an independent commissioner from the United Nations who found that Israel has been responsible for multiple genocidal acts in Gaza. As a result, many were unhappy with Netenyahu’s presence in New York City. At the time of the general assembly, hundreds of protestors, consisting of political organizations, civilians, political figures and celebrities, turned up at the UN headquarters. They held signs and donned shirts reading “Fund people not bombs” and “Let Gaza live.” Amongst the many protesters were political figures such as Brad Lander, a Democratic Party nominee for New York’s 10th congressional district, and celebrated actors and artists such as Cynthia Nixon and Tony Kushner. Following the protest, hundreds of protestors were arrested, including the democratic candidate for New York’s 13th congressional district Darializa Avila Chevalier and celebrities such as Susan Sarondon, Hannah Einbinder and Caleb Hearon.
On social media news sources, one might notice an influx of comments applauding celebrities for protesting. Or, one might see news headlines centering around the celebrities who were arrested. Perhaps, a substantial amount of the general public relies on celebrities as political figureheads. A recent study found that 70% of American voters fail a basic civic literary test, likely due to a combination of poorly structured civic education and a lack of personal motivation to learn. Instead of taking the time to learn about political candidates, individuals may rely on taking directives passively from their favorite celebrities.
When singer-songwriter Chappell Roan refused to endorse Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, she was met with outrage. Many thought that the pop star’s access to a large audience obligated her to utilize the audience in some way. Roan previously criticized the Democratic Party’s handling of LGBTQIA+ legislation as well as of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Even though Roan voted for Harris, she wasn’t going to endorse them like other big-name celebrities such as George Clooney and Taylor Swift. Do celebrities have an obligation to convince their millions of fans of a political viewpoint?
Roan’s response, though not received well by the general public, contains much merit. Celebrity culture and the political sphere in the U.S. have become so entangled that it is hard to discern where the boundary lies, if there should be any at all. Although celebrities and influencers may have substantial fanbases, they are not obligated to enter the political discourse online. Ultimately, it is not their job to, for example, influence the outcome of an election. Of course, this does not mean that those with larger platforms cannot engage in political matters at all. It just means that they should have to. There are ways that celebrities can use their platform to promote beneficial causes without pigeonholing their audience. A good example is sing-songwriter and actress Olivia Rodrigo’s recent, independently-run “Daisy Chain Fields” music festival, which featured an all-woman lineup. All net proceeds of “Daisy Chain Fields” went to a variety of non-profit organizations supporting girls and young women. Or Dolly Parton, who was known for her many philanthropic efforts, such as her Dollywood Foundation, or her donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt University to fund coronavirus research.
Still, it is important to note that celebrities, no matter how personable and moral they seem, are people with a public relations team behind them. No matter how relatable they may seem to us, many will engage with and do things that give them the best publicity. This is not to discredit the intentions and hearts of the celebrities who have done good, such as all of those who protested at the UN headquarters last Thursday. This is to say that the voices of “everyday” civilians can hold as much weight as that of celebrities. A celebrity is one person at a protest. You can be another.
We cannot engage in politics vicariously through celebrities. Instead of urging some arbitrary celebrity to become more involved in politics, maybe it is time that we take it upon ourselves to become involved. Ohio general elections are coming up soon, and voter registration is still open. The 2028 national presidential elections are also creeping up. Take the time and effort to register, research the candidates and step into politics yourself. The right to an individual vote is valuable and should not be muddled by vague celebrity endorsements.