Julia Kane ‘27
Staff Writer
Last Tuesday, the presidential debate ended spectacularly with the endorsement of Kamala Harris from Taylor Swift. Broadcasted to her 284 million followers, Swift pledged her support to Harris, along with a lengthy caption detailing the reasoning behind her decision. She also encouraged her fans to register to vote and to be civically active, which led to 406,000 people clicking on the vote.com registration link in her bio within 24 hours. On the Republican side, wrestler Hulk Hogan spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, stating, “As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics. But after everything that’s happened to our country over the past four years and everything that happened last weekend, I can no longer stay silent” (CTV News). With an election on the near horizon with a highly polarized US, celebrities are now feeling the pressure to speak out about their political views.
Celebrities can easily market themselves, other people, and products to their followers. Especially with the presence of influencers on TikTok, popular makeup and clothing flies off of the shelves once an influencer recommends it. However, where is the line drawn regarding celebrities showing public support for politicians? Celebrities have been showing their support for their favored politicians since the 1950s, with Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman endorsing Dwight Eisenhower in both 1952 and 1956. Frank Sinatra voiced his approval of John F. Kennedy in a unique manner by incorporating the line, “Vote for Kennedy” into his song “High Hopes” in support of JFK’s 1960 presidential campaign. Nowadays, it is more common for celebrities to announce who they will be voting for through various social media platforms, where they can quickly gain widespread visibility. Many people believe it is problematic for celebrities to stay silent on politics, as they are responsible for raising awareness of important topics since they have such large followings. On the contrary, others believe singers should stick to singing, staying out of politics where they are not as well-versed or educated as others. As these endorsements can be seen as either beneficial or insignificant, I find this to be a very complex topic that I have contrasting opinions about.
It can be argued that it is dangerous for celebrities to show their support for one presidential candidate, as it can lead to their fans and followers making ill-informed decisions based on their idol’s opinion. While this is true, it can simply reinforce what voters already believe, driving them to take action instead of feeling indifferent about voting. It also may inspire individuals between the ages of 18-24 to vote, as they are more active on social media and are more apt to follow current celebrities.
I believe that it is acceptable for singers, actors, and other famous figures to voice their support on politics, as every American should under the First Amendment. It proves that they care somewhat about contemporary issues, even if these subjects do not directly affect them. However, for me, it is essential for the endorsement to include general encouragement to register to vote, no matter who it is for. Supplying viewers with links for voter registration and other resources is of the utmost importance, regardless of party affiliation. With more Americans participating in the democratic system, the power of ordinary people to influence government actions increases and makes a well-rounded, participatory democracy. I find it less effective when celebrities only state who they are voting for, especially without other voting resources or encouragement. Regardless of whether the 27,000 people who registered to vote through Swift’s provided link vote for Harris, there are still 27,000 new voters to increase civic engagement and participation. Although it may appear superficial in the grand scheme of American political influence, if celebrities endorsing politicians increase voter participation, I am all for it.
Featured images courtesy of Getty Images
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