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In the era of social media, celebrities face constant scrutiny, with some individuals taking it to extremes by “canceling” those who stray from what is “woke”. This often involves digging up old social media posts, forcing stars to confront the long-term consequences of their past actions. As a result, many navigate a difficult world where the past can overshadow the present.
In the past, celebrities have not been called on for their political knowledge, with many people giving them eye-rolls when they tried to speak out about it. Now, it is a completely different story, with people not only wanting celebrities to speak out on their opinions but be fully informed and ready to speak out about it.
Singer Chappell Roan was recently attacked online for saying she does not endorse either candidate, although she did state she is voting for Kamala Harris. This separates Roan from other pop stars like Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish, who both endorsed Harris.
Just like fans, brands are paying close attention to celebrities’ actions. Celebrity endorsements often hinge on a star’s public image, so a brand that targets Gen Z audiences would not want to cast someone like J.K. Rowling, who was canceled for her views on LGBTQ+ rights.
As this political landscape continues evolving, many celebrities have become increasingly aware of their words and actions. Nevertheless, there is a question to be answered: Can celebrities navigate this territory without sacrificing who they are as a person?
For many the answer is to find a middle ground between activism and art, as well as understanding that even the smallest things uttered carry weight.
The pressure of this is evident, with many artists choosing not to say anything while others double down on their opinions.
The impact of celebrities’ political views is not limited to social media backlash. It bleeds into award shows, media interviews, and even fan interactions, all of which have celebs being asked to justify their political stance.
For example, Leigh Allyn-Baker (who played Amy Duncan on Good Luck Charlie) went viral during COVID-19 when a video of her going on an anti-mask rant was making the rounds on social media. This did not take well to the people who were fans of Good Luck Charlie, with many of them saying this like “Amy Duncan would never.”
One thing is clear though: celebs must adapt to the changing expectations of their audiences. Whatever they choose to do, their choices will choose to resonate. This affects not only their careers, but the way we view celebrities as a whole.