As street poet and hip-hop philosopher Sexyy Red profoundly remarked, “[Trump] used to be calling people fat. He just bold. He funny. We need people like him.” With the upcoming presidential election in November, popular culture figures have demonstrated their desperate desire to cling to their dead appeal to the public that they have long since abandoned in their unforgiving pursuit of fame.
This pervasive culture of celebrity endorsements—both respected and expected—is inherently a warning sign for the state of our democracy. In regards to the concept of celebrity endorsements, it has become clear that it is reflective of an out-of-touch elite. Beyond this, it is doubtful whether they even achieve the intended goal of galvanizing support for their preferred candidates.
Kanye West infamously supported Trump and cast himself as a firebrand in the party. Due to his unpredictable antics and controversial statements, his endorsement furthered the perception that Trump’s campaign was unserious at best. Capitalizing on media attention pertaining to his questionable activities, West would eventually launch his own presidential campaign in 2020. With the line between pop culture and politics becoming increasingly blurred, celebrity endorsements act as dangerous diversions from critical issues that necessitate practical solutions.
This phenomenon isn’t limited to Ye and his outlandish behavior. This can even be attributed to those on the other side of the political spectrum. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in an effort to inspire hope among the common people, celebrity elite released a tone-deaf cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The melodies of their rich voices and the pleasant acoustics of their mansions somehow fell on deaf ears for the public. This weak rendition to serenade the masses effectively fueled public opposition to lockdown measures and lent credibility to conspiracy theories regarding a global cabal of elite seeking to control the common man through these restrictions.
They should have been hesitant to mix entertainment with politics after Yeezus got politically crucified for his antics. However, these celebrities had the unfounded belief that they could resurrect some goodwill with a sing-along. Evidently, it did pretty much the exact opposite.
In addition to this, the occurrence of celebrity endorsements raises ethical questions related to authenticity and responsibility. To what degree are these figures genuinely interested in the issues they supposedly champion? To what extent are they merely seeking to establish a brand for their names? When figures blinded by the glitz and glamor of Hollywood suddenly step into the political fray, it feels less like a rallying cry and more like a publicity stunt.
As this election continues to reinforce the concerning trend of political polarization, it is necessary to evaluate the validity of our emphasis on celebrity culture. By putting celebrities onto a pedestal of possessing legitimate voices in political discourse, we are trivializing serious issues and turning our democratic institutions into entertainment arenas.
Ultimately, our modern political landscape’s reliance on celebrity endorsements is indicative of a larger disconnect between those in places of power—whether political or cultural— and the everyday Americans who simply want to watch movies in peace.
Photo Credit: Andrew Kelly | Reuters
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