Idolizing Opinions
In 2019, Taylor Swift released the second lead single, “You Need to Calm Down,” to her 7th studio album “Lover.” As an anthem for pride, the song sends the message that those who put others down should “calm down.” She paired this song with a petition for the United States Senate to pass the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sexuality and gender. Initially, I was proud of Swift for speaking up for a good cause and thought that she was using her platform for good. But as time went on, I could not help but wonder why she did not continue putting the same effort into issues such as “Black Lives Matter'' or raised any awareness when it came to people of color.
During the 2020 election, many celebrities used their platforms to advocate for a certain cause, encouraging people to vote and participate in their local and national elections. Celebrities have a large impact when raising awareness and a large influence over certain demographics and generations of people; however, at the end of the day, they are entertainers. Many people idolize actors, musicians, artists, or models— going to them for fashion, advice, or life inspiration. Due to this idolization, when celebrities speak out on issues important to us, people feel a sense of validation. However, many times when celebrities speak up, something seems to always go wrong. Often, they don’t say enough or don’t go any further from saying their stance, rather than actually acting upon it. The problem with Taylor Swift speaking up on LGBT+ rights and feminism is that she only speaks up when it is beneficial for her. Though she has good intentions, her actions can come off as performative since she was selling a single to a certain audience. It is also important to note that she has not been putting the same amount of effort into other political issues that are important to many, as well.
Additionally, celebrities speak up on an issue to create or transform their “brand.” When a celebrity advocates for a law or speaks up on a certain political issue, it adds to their credibility as a public figure. As viewers, we praise their advocacy, saying that they are using their voice for effective change. While many times celebrities have good intentions, they often only speak up because it is trendy, and people want them to do so.
As consumers of celebrity entertainment, we should not turn to celebrities for them to put their voices into something that they may not even be fully educated on. Instead we should turn to government officials and advocate for true, systemic change rather than just fixing the problems that result from corrupt systems that are ingrained into society.
