While it isn’t necessarily the biggest shocker to some, it is impossible to avoid the fact that celebrities and social media influencers are in some way, shape, or form, involved in our daily lives. We can find these stars on a variety of media: from our mindless scrolling on TikTok and other social media platforms to even our politics today. However do celebrities taking a position in politics pose a problem or threat? Lily Quartermaine unearths answers to this question in the October Issue of the Torch 2020.
A favorite celebrity — it’s something everyone has, and if they don’t, then their best friend does. With so much content about our favorite musicians and actresses constantly being fed to us through news programs, talk shows, paparazzi tabloids, reality shows, etc., it’s almost as if we are becoming too informed. The way that celebrities portray themselves is extremely influential, hence the widely accepted title for most internet stars, “influencers.” The question is — should these celebrities put a cap on just how much of their life they choose to share?
Frankly, politics have always been a huge part of the entertainment industry. Talk show hosts like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel express their liberal views with no shame nightly; one of the most popular shows on television, Saturday Night Live, does frequent political parody pieces, not holding back when it comes to crude humor. Numerous celebrities also have no problem expressing their thoughts on President Donald Trump. When asked if the president should see her show at the 2017 Tony Awards, Patti Lupone, one of the most recognizable names in theatre, said proudly, “Well I hope he doesn’t, because I won’t perform if he does… Because I hate [him].”
However, this dilemma has become increasingly trickier to navigate recently due to the uprising of several political movements, namely Black Lives Matter and the fight for trans rights. Popular creators find themselves with audiences composed of these alienated groups, and the pressure for them to speak up is high. These (typically younger) audiences argue that content-creators have the responsibility to use their highly influential platform for education and standing up for marginalized groups. Others believe that politics and entertainment should be separate, and that entertainers have no such righteous duty. It’s easy for spectators to speak on this, not know the true consequences of having an audience and just how easy it is to immediately lose one.
A stark example of this scenario is J.K. Rowling, the author of one of the most popular book series of all time, Harry Potter. Earlier this year, Rowling spoke out about her views on the trans community, stating in a tweet, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” In the tweet she refers to an article that used the term “people who menstruate” instead of women since nonbinary people and transgender men can also menstruate. Since, Rowling has not backed down on her stance on the issue, even after numerous fans and fellow celebrities have called her out.
Even Daniel Radcliffe, the actor of the titular role in the Harry Potter film series, responded to the backlash.
“While Jo [Rowling] is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken… I feel compelled to say something at this moment. Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.” Radcliffe said, going so far as to condemn the author of his breakout role for sharing her controversial views.
Despite the shocking outrage amongst Rowling’s fandom and the dreadful consequences of her sharing her controversial opinion, fans still push for their favorite creators to speak up. An example of politics and entertainment mixing perfectly is found in proclaimed activist and popular musician Andrew Hozier-Byrne. Hozier-Byrne frequently donates and promotes fundraisers for prominent social justice causes, such as domestic abuse and most recently, Black Lives Matter. His contributions, although politically charged, receive generally positive views and are seen to his fanbase as a testament to his good character.
Even if they know it will be an example of good character or a chance to help someone, it is understandable still some creators choose to stay quiet. Although usually justified, the internet is known for being ruthless in destroying careers when a creator does something they deem inappropriate. When it comes to the internet’s infamous routine of cancel culture, it’s hard to predict what the outcome of a potentially controversial statement could be. We as fans must remember that how celebrities look on social media and the fanbase that they retain is a large majority of their job. However, this in no way excuses them from being held accountable for discriminatory views or speaking up for those marginalized. It is not a creator’s job to defend others, but it is has proved to be enormously favorable by fans when creators speak up for those who need it.