The United States hosts a distinct election culture. It has more freedom of speech than any other country on Earth, meaning citizens can voice their opinions without retribution. From the countless political memes on social media to the classic “I Voted” sticker, many aspects of the U.S. election process reflect our perspectives regarding the value of free expression. One of the more controversial elements, however, is celebrity endorsements, which have become a tradition in their own right.
Whether it’s Robert De Niro or Kid Rock, celebrities across the board have made their support for certain candidates loud and clear. That said, such behavior is not always popular. One could argue that celebrities are using their influence to manipulate compliant audiences into supporting their interests, without encouraging them to think for themselves. Many critics believe that celebrity activists should just “shut up” and work in their respective industries. Freedom of speech, however, applies to everyone equally, including celebrities.
For a republic to work effectively, its people must be allowed to freely support, criticize or question the capabilities of their representatives. These freedoms must be protected at any cost. The suppression of opinions can lead to a government that doesn’t authentically represent the interests of its people.
By slamming public figures and celebrities who express themselves (in a way that we wouldn’t if they had less of a following), we threaten one of the values foundational to the democratic process. Just like we wouldn’t bash an average citizen for voicing a mainstream opinion, we shouldn’t be bashing celebrities. After all, they have the same right to contribute to our democracy as anyone else. And by making political ideas more accessible to potential voters, I’d argue that these celebrities cultivate a more politically conscious fanbase.
It’s not like celebrity endorsements are anything new. Celebrities and public figures have expressed their political views through endorsements throughout American history. Frank Sinatra’s support of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s and John Lennon’s endorsement of George McGovern’s 1972 anti-Vietnam War presidential campaign both stand as testaments to the historical roots of celebrities using their stature to promote their ideals.
We shouldn’t merely accept celebrities using their voices to stand up for their philosophies; we should encourage them to do so. By voicing their opinions, celebrities can become advocates for crucial social issues and rally support from their fanbases. In 2020, the death of George Floyd led to overwhelming support for the Black Lives Matter movement, in part because of the intense attention given to it by celebrities. The support of public figures is essential to the growth of social movements.
As the concept of celebrity endorsements gathers heavy criticism, many have claimed that celebrities and public figures are far too “out of touch” with the average citizen.
To say that celebrities’ opinions are worth less because they are wealthy or “out of touch” isn’t a good argument. Even if some celebrities can’t immediately relate with the struggles of average people, the free expression of mainstream ideas should eclipse any interest in silencing political dialogue. Furthermore, celebrities’ position as trendsetters, influencers and artists bring unique perspectives, which contribute to the diversity of viewpoints that strengthen democracy.
This is not to say that any political expression from a celebrity should be welcomed and tolerated. Celebrities who cynically use their status for personal benefit should be socially ostracized like anyone else in the same situation. That’s another important part of freedom of expression. Individuals don’t have to pay attention to people they disagree with or dislike. If some particular celebrity has opinions that are unaligned with their audience’s perspective, that audience has the constitutional right to reject and ignore their endorsements.
Just like anyone else, celebrities have the unequivocal right to publicly endorse or support the ideologies and the people that align with their personal morals. As cultivators of their own brands, public figures have the privilege to endorse and support ideas beneficial to the world, and the public has a similar ability to question those ideas and reject those that don’t align with their views. So whether it’s George Clooney and President Joe Biden, or Cardi B and Bernie Sanders, celebrities should be allowed to serve as advocates for those they support.
Mateo Alvarez is an Opinion columnist. He is studying Political Science and is interested in analyzing the crossing points between politics and culture, and can be reached at mateoalv@umich.edu.
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