During the 2024 election, the public saw mass amounts of celebrity endorsements from both sides of the ballot. Former Vice President Kamala Harris received endorsements leading up to this year’s election from stars such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Stephen King, Jennifer Anniston and Eminem. On the Republican side, President Donald Trump was endorsed by names like Joe Rogan, Amber Rose, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Danica Patrick and Elon Musk. Countless issues reveal themselves when a nearly split Presidential election meets a new generation of chronically online voters. It is important to recognize controversies when considering big celebrities’ political endorsements such as surfacing voting, celebrity expertise, and social pressures.
Young voters with celebrity infatuations may be more inclined to vote for a candidate simply because of their infatuation with them. Young voters who feel a strong attachment to celebrities may be more inclined to cast their vote for a candidate endorsed by their favorite public figure rather than evaluating the candidate’s policies and qualifications independently. After all, it is much easier to vote for who your favorite singer says to than to do civil research. This phenomenon suggests that celebrity endorsements can simplify complex political decisions into popularity contests, leading some young voters to support candidates without a full understanding of their platforms or the implications of their policies.
A more nuanced approach to this subject rides on the fact that a majority of celebrities do not have more knowledge than the average American. Misinformation can be easily spread by political endorsements intended to be quickly consumed by large numbers of people.
Celebrities endorsing presidential candidates can lead to stardom creating pressure for voters to cast a vote they do not fully have faith in. Say, for example, Jane is an avid supporter of Candidate A, but also loves a particular actor’s films, as well. If that particular actor strongly endorses Candidate B, Jane may feel conflicted on her vote. Furthermore, if Jane’s favorite actor makes a statement to the effect of “you must vote for Candidate B or else you hate _____,” Jane may vote for Candidate B solely to appeal to someone who realistically has no idea she exists.
Another issue raised by this argument is that of a celebrity’s freedom of speech. Legally, yes, any celebrity can voice any opinion that they want. This applies specifically to politics. The notion that celebrities should or should not announce their political recommendations can be seen as an ethical question, especially for stars with young and influential audiences. Right and left-wing influencers such as Chappell Roan, Charlie Kirk, Blair White and Ariana Grande have large followings of fans as young as elementary school who will be voting sooner than later.
This stance is not to take away from the importance of bringing awareness to political campaigns. On the contrary, celebrities encouraging their audiences to register and exercise their right to vote can be incredible for voter turnout. Where changes can be made is in popular artists and influencer’s platforms to encourage educated and responsible voting rather than creating sociopolitical pressure between their fans and other artists by publicly choosing one side of the coin that polarizes our country.