Apolitical, Silent, Bad Activist: The New Age Of Celebrity Politics

Celebrity involvement in the political agenda ebbs and flows. Much like their well-documented on-off romantic relationships.

In 2019, it’s very much ‘on’: It’s cool to be kind - to support (ahem, some) policy leaders and marginalised communities across the globe.

At this year’s VMAs - viewed by 4.9 million people - Taylor Swift used her airtime, while accepting an award for 'Video of the Year' to call out President Trump's administration for not responding to her Equality Act petition (which would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in their places of work, homes, schools, and other public accommodations).

At the time of writing this article, over 521,000 people have signed the Equality Act petition. The White House’s response? They would not be supporting the bill.

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Whilst this fact on its own is, for many, deeply frustrating, there's also another undercurrent to the story. One of Taylor’s ‘political awakening’ - or apparent lack thereof in the past. Something that has sparked both praise and fury.

Just three years ago, she was condemned by many (even by other celebrities) for her silence during the 2016 US election.

Katy Perry, who has endured a long and complicated feud with the 'Lover' singer argued that, ‘if you have a voice you have a responsibility to use it now, more than ever.’

So Taylor's recent political activism could be viewed as a great step forwards.

On the other hand, some have contended that it is, in fact, more responsible for those with huge platforms and influence to remain silent and leave politics to those with more policy experience.

Swift explained her silence during the 2016 election, in a Vogue cover profile this month, reflecting that 'unfortunately' at the time, 'you had a political opponent who was weaponizing the idea of the celebrity endorsement. He was going around saying, I’m a man of the people. I’m for you. I care about you. I just knew I wasn’t going to help. Would I be an endorsement or would I be a liability?'

When Swift did eventually take a stance on social media, by endorsing two Democrat candidates in Tennessee, in October 2018, it was met with mixed emotions.

Articles were peppered with phrases that she had finally ‘broken her silence’ and made a ‘rare' political statement.

The subtext questioning: Is Taylor Swift A Bad Activist? Why all the advocacy talk now? Has she even done enough in the past to warrant her outspokenness, in comparison to say Ugly Betty star America Ferrera’s ‘on-the-ground activism’, IRL panels and consistent political presence online?

Actress and director Lena Dunham - a long-time friend of the 'Shake It Off' singer’s and outspoken activist on issues from gender to reproductive rights - praised Taylor’s decision to walk the political plank. 'I think she chose a really, really powerful time to speak out,' she said. 'I’m so moved and honored to be her friend.'

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But not everyone was as happy about it.

Conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, suggested that Swift was spreading 'bad information'.

‘What I used to love about Taylor Swift is she stayed away from politics — she was all about music. All about, you know, female empowerment,’ he said on news program 'Fox and Friends'.

In short: Taylor is no expert, she should stick to what she knows. However, Kirk does stop short of saying all celebrities do not have the right to share their personal beliefs and opinions - just...um, some.

He gushes over Kanye’s brand of activism, for example. A more toned-down version, perhaps? ‘What I love about Kanye West is he's been blazing this trail saying, 'It's okay to think freely. Thank you Kanye West for standing up for what is right.’

Herein lies the war on celebrity activism: you are damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.

You are either too political or not woke enough.

Meghan Markle is a prime example. Arguably the most scrutinised woman on both sides of the Atlantic right now, judged for her parenting style through to her politics.

The Duchess of Sussex recently received backlash when her guest-editorship for British Vogue’s ‘Forces For Change’ was revealed for their September 2019 issue - spotlighting fifteen 'trail-blazing changemakers' and global issues from climate change to LGBTQ rights. Even before hitting newsstands, media commentators questioned her endorsing 'transgenderism' and labelled the move ‘idiotic.'

Omid Scobie, a royal contributor for ABC News, told BuzzFeed News: ‘We started this journey almost three years ago with appalling coverage, calling her 'Straight out of Compton,' digs at her mother’s appearance, and then the commentary moved on to Meghan being 'difficult,' 'demanding,' too vocal, too much everything.’

He added: 'The issues [highlighted in the magazine], that have been deemed by some as ‘too political’ for a member of the Royal Family to take on, have nothing to do with politics — they’re about basic human rights and respecting mankind.'

‘Since day one,’ Scobie said, ‘we’ve seen Meghan criticised for things that other royals have been celebrated for.’

Whether you like them or not, agree with their politics or not, celebrities using their platforms to raise the voices of those who have been silenced or underrepresented for years? Now, that is something we should celebrate.

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