“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” hit-singer Taylor Swift said in an Instagram post following the presidential debate.
Along with the official endorsement, Swift explained that she thought her post was important to dispel AI-generated images of herself endorsing former President Trump’s campaign. She explained that in light of the images, she thought transparency about her political intentions was vital.
Swift isn’t the first celebrity to use their platform to comment on politics. Football stars, hit singers and CEOs are all getting political. Scrolling through your social media feed, you are sure to find countless celebrities weighing in on hot-button issues – whether it be climate change, LGBTQ+ rights or geopolitical tension. While some argue that these celebrities should stick to the field or the recording studio, celebrities have the power to make or break our political system with their platforms.
The most valuable of this influencer activity is endorsements of political candidates. At both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention, celebrities were loud and proud in the audience and on the stage. From Kid Rock to Lil Jon, celebrities made up a large portion of media coverage at the conventions.
Even more so, celebrities advocate for politicans on social media. Musical sensation Charli XCX’s tweet reading “kamala IS brat,” has reached over 55 million views on X. While she didn’t mean for the tweet to spark such fame, Charli explained to Vulture magazine that she stands by her tweet.
“… to be on the right side of democracy, the right side of women’s rights, is hugely important to me,” XCX said.
Regardless of the importance of the young vote in elections, the Harvard Kennedy School found earlier this year that only 53% of 18 to 29 year olds intend to vote in the 2024 election. This number is incredibly concerning, with young people inheriting the product of the next presidency, but refusing to show up for it.
Celebrities might be the solution to getting young voters to show up to the polls.
NPR reported in 2023 that after Taylor Swift posted a link for voting registration on her Instagram, more than 35,000 people registered – an unexpected surge in democratic involvement, all thanks to the pop star’s social media message.
Celebrity status isn’t a reason to steer away from politics, but a reason to become involved. Celebrities like Swift are able to create tangible and positive change by encouraging fans to participate in elections.
This isn’t the first time that stars have stuck their nose in politics. Bob Dylan, famous for his anti-war and pro-Civil Rights lyrics, proved that left-wing ideas could be commercially successful. Coined as one of music’s biggest stars, Dylan’s attention to moral issues spiraled him into fame in the first place, showcasing that celebrity intervention in the political sphere can benefit celebrities themselves as well as the society at large.
Although some argue that celebrities aren’t qualified to comment on politics, junior Jia Sood thinks otherwise.
“If you’re living in the world, you’re qualified to talk about it, because it’s what you’re seeing around yourself,” Sood said.
With an influx of celebrities commenting on politics, backlash has also increased.
Fox News’ Laura Ingraham went down in infamy in 2018 for her request for Lebron James to just “shut up and dribble” in reaction to his commentary about racism, Trump and politics at large.
In response, James used a press conference to defend his statements and his societal role in talking politics.
“We will definitely not shut up and dribble. … I mean too much to society, too much to the youth, too much to so many kids who feel like they don’t have a way out,” James said.
While there is a risk of giving the wrong people a huge platform, it’s important for social media users to recognize that the personal is political. Athletes like James deserve to comment on the racism rampant in athletics and in the country at large – his celebrity status doesn’t change this right. Charli XCX should feel comfortable using her art to advocate and her platform to endorse. Lil Wayne should advocate for Trump’s presidency after Trump pardoned the rapper in his first term. Personal experiences, interactions and opinions shouldn’t be kept out of Hollywood – they make Hollywood relevant.
“I don’t speak out because I am an artist,” Scandal’s Kerry Washington said. “I speak out because I’m an American.”
