Over the past Presidential Election cycles, in particular, during 2024, individuals have used their social media accounts to stay updated with politics (McClain et al., 2024). While users can utilize social media platforms to share their political opinions with others, they may not be able to reach wider audiences as successfully as celebrities would. According to Yashraj Sharma’s description of Instagram’s Class Politics, whereas TikTok can boost anyone’s video on For You pages (and anybody can gain a large following), Instagram Reels has restrictions and will only recommend videos of higher quality (Sharma, 2021, para. 18). As a result, creators who have access to resources that can help them achieve quality content are more likely to reach a broader audience through their platforms. This is where celebrities, specifically musical artists, can step in. Some pop stars (such as Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift) used the presidential election as an opportunity to share their political beliefs with the general public; using social media platforms and music, they became outspoken activists. I believe that celebrity activism is a positive and effective force because it empowers fans to advocate for issues that significantly impact them and encourages greater involvement in politics.
Celebrities’ roles have changed over time; now, they are not just famous figures– they are activists. Through the cultural formation of a celebrity, young audiences place expectations on famous figures to speak out if something significant (specifically political) happens in the world. Famous figures shape society and teach their fans about everyday life. Graemae Turner also acknowledges that “while celebrity’s social and cultural implications are probably the aspects we understand least at the moment, they are also the aspects about which we should be most legitimately concerned in the long term” (Turner, 2010, p.14). In other words, he is describing celebrities’ influence as complex and misunderstood, but worth studying and taking value in. As celebrities and pop culture become increasingly intertwined with society, we should not only analyze their role in shaping audiences’ actions and decisions, but also celebrate their contributions. An example of a celebrity taking on a position in shaping society is Taylor Swift. Swift has been known to be outspoken about her political beliefs, speaking out about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and endorsing Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election. Swift continued her social impact by endorsing Kamala Harris after the first presidential debate and taught younger audiences to expect political involvement from their favorite celebrities (Arkin, 2024, para. 2); her activism created assumptions that all famous people have influence in politics (Otte, 2024).
The long arc of empowerment is a critique of white feminism–the inability to “separate whiteness from feminism’s agenda” (Zakaria, 2021, p.12). It argues that groups of people who are most affected by issues (like, minorities, for example) should be the ones advocating for themselves; it is the “bottom-up approach” to “top-down” empowerment (Zakaria, 2021, p. 59). The day after the 2024 presidential election results were released, Billie Eilish held a concert in Nashville. During one of her songs “TV” that has a lyric about “overturning Roe v. Wade,” Eilish stopped the song early and walked off stage (Shafer, 2024, para. 7). This was a bold statement that placed a great emphasis on Eilish’s disappointment with the results of the election. Although she did not post anything about her speech, the artist’s powerful moment was shared on social media through her concertgoers. Some may say that this fits in with the traditional form of White feminism that Zakaria is critiquing. However, I see it in a different way. Billie Eilish states, “I want you to know that you’re safe with me and you’re protected here and that you are safe in this room” (Shafer, 2024, para. 4). She is supporting the concept of the long arc of empowerment by inviting her fans into a safe space to advocate for the political issues that impact and concern them the most. This can be seen with Billie Eilish not posting the video of her speech on her own. She provides her fans with the choice of whether or not they want to use her video to share their own political opinions online; they are empowering themselves. Eilish recognizes that audience members of the Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour may be more impacted by the results of the election than she is and gives her audience members an opportunity to share their beliefs. Because critics of traditional, white-led feminism have urged for activism to come from those most impacted by issues (audience members) over those in positions of power (singers)–this poses the question: is celebrity activism effective?
I believe that celebrity activism is effective. Some people may argue that pop stars, such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, were not effective in their advocacy because Kamala Harris was not elected. However, it can be argued that the political influence and activism by musical artists such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish extends further than the results of the election. Their actions and work encourage individuals to take part in politics. For example, fans who saw Taylor Swift’s call to vote became more inclined to be politically involved. This can be seen with 35,000 Swifties following the link to Vote.org through the performer’s social media posts (Sullivan, 2023, para. 2-3).
I have been able to see the immense impact that pop stars such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish have had on their fans’ interactions with politics. In the future, voting organizations can collaborate with artists and celebrities in elections and political events. There is an incredibly bright future for celebrity activism.
Reference List
Arkin, D. (2024, September 10). Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris After Presidential Debate. NBC News.
McClain, C., Anderson, M., & Gelles-Watnick, R. (2024, June 12). How Americans Navigate Politics on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram. Pew Research Center.
Otte, J. (2024, February 6). 'She Could Absolutely Change My Mind': Readers on Taylor Swift's Political Influence. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/06/taylor-swift-political-voting-election-influence
Shafer, E. (2024, November 7). Billie Eilish Slams Donald Trump at Nashville Show: 'Someone Who Hates Women So, So Deeply is About to Be the President'. Variety Magazine. https://variety.com/2024/music/news/billie-eilish-slams-donald-trump-hates-women-so-deeply-president-1236203513/
Sharma, Y. (2021, October 6). Instagram Has Largely Replaced TikTok in India, and Erased Working-Class Creators. Rest of World. https://restofworld.org/2021/instagram-and-class-in-india/?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Sullivan, B. (2023, September 22). A Taylor Swift Instagram post Helped Drive a Surge in Voter Registration. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1201183160/taylor-swift-instagram-voter-registration
Turner, G. (2010). Approaching Celebrity Studies. Celebrity Studies, 1(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/19392390903519024
Zakaria, R. (2021). Chapter 3. In Against White Feminism (pp. 56-76). Penguin.
Hi Sophia,
ReplyDeleteThere is absolute no doubt that with the rise of activism with celebrities, there is also a rise of white feminist ideals. A lot of these actors and actresses who claim to care about politics and policies that affect everyday people, often neglect the problems of marginalized communities. Yes, they express their explicit concern for Roe v Wade being overturned, but where is that same concern for Black women or Trans women or just people outside of themselves?
Celebrities insert themselves into politics when they choose and pick who to save and then run away when it's time to get serious about other communities.
Although Moya Bailey’s text has to do directly with Black women, I thought of her topic of invisibility–where Black women are often ignored and made invisible when they need life saving attention. We can see this being the case with not only Black women, but Trans people and other marginalized communities.
Overall, I do also agree with your point that celebrity activism is impactful but has its limitations and problems. Especially when you bring up the point Zakaria made about a bottom-up approach where those most affected by issues take the lead in activism and advocacy. I do think that celebrities have a role to play in amplifying important issues, but they should focus on using their platform to support and elevate the voices of those directly impacted rather than centering themselves in the narrative. When celebrities dominate the conversation, it can overshadow the grassroots efforts and firsthand experiences of marginalized communities that are essential for real change.