Research

The research paper below that I wrote talks about how celebrities use their platforms on social media to express their perspectives on political issues. It also debates if they should be allowed to share their opinions and be responsible for the outcomes of them expressing their ideas.

 

Should Celebrities Take On Politics?  

Celebrities are beginning to branch out by using their social platforms to discuss current political issues in today’s society. In recent discussions of celebrities addressing and share their political beliefs, a controversial issue has been whether they should be allowed to give their perspective on political issues we see today. On one hand, some argue that they should be allowed to share their political views. From the perspective of Eugene Scott, journalist for the Washington Post, “the reason many of us tolerate celebrity engagement in policy is because we know that behind their public images celebrities are real people. They are fathers, employees and employers and, perhaps most importantly in this conversation, tax-paying American citizens. And it is these things that give them a right and the freedom to be in on this conversation.” However, others argue that they shouldn’t be able to share their political views, including Tommy Abuel, writer for Stars Weigh In On Politics: “as an actor, I leave politics and political issues to politicians. I believe that ‘art’ should not be compromised by politics or religion-that way, I can portray whichever character I’m tasked to breathe life into, without bias. So, an actor should keep his political beliefs to himself, because it can cloud his judgment.” In sum, then, the issue is whether celebrities should be allowed to use their platform to share their political views? Should they even be allowed to take on political topics? As a bystander who follows social media and news on celebrities, my own view is that celebrities should be able to talk about and share their thoughts on political matters. Though I concede that because they have a strong social platform, they could take advantage of it and send out biased opinions, but I still maintain that they have a right to speak on these matters. The issue is important because celebrities should be given a voice in politics just like every citizen because, in the end, they are just like any of us.

Celebrities today are taking their own stance on more recent political news/issues, like President Donald Trump. Jimmy Kimmel stated his perspective on a specific issue,

Months after President Donald Trump took over the Oval Office after promising to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” waded into the debate when his infant son, Billy, underwent open-heart surgery after birth. The television star’s use of his show to discuss his son’s preexisting condition – coverage of which is guaranteed under Obamacare – has made Kimmel one of the more prominent voices in the health policy debate (Scott).

In this instance Kimmel is speaking for himself on how he was personally affected by the appeal of ObamaCare. In this matter he is no longer being seen as a celebrity but just as any other person whose concerns are being raised by our President’s actions. Therefore, he is allowed to share his political beliefs because others are able to connect with him on the same issues families are having at home. “One of the reasons that Kimmel gets people to listen to them – even on matters of health care – is because we live in a culture in which celebrities have become influencers not just in the arts but in society as a whole” (Scott). As we can see celebrities are becoming more of an important part of society today, mainly because they are role models for young adults and other followers. Celebrities are influencing and swaying people’s opinions which is what is forming the society we have today. They are an easy outlet for information because they are so publicized in the media.

Jimmy Kimmel is just one of many celebrities that is voicing his opinion on politics today; we are also seeing a rise in athletes taking action during games or sporting events to share their political opinions. For example, Malcolm Jenkins, NFL player for the Eagles, expressed,

Last season, I raised my fist as a sign of solidarity to support people, especially people of color, who were and are still unjustly losing their lives at the hands of officers with little to no consequence. After spending time with police officers on ride-alongs, meeting with politicians on the state and federal level and grassroots organizations fighting for human rights, it’s clear that our criminal justice system is still crippling communities of color through mass incarceration (qtd. In Zirin).

In this instance we see that NFL player Jenkins is knowledgeable and observant of these current justice system matters which make it more justifiable for him to be able to share his perspective because it is accurate information. Jenkins has been around police officers during duty and has met politicians, as well as been a part of many organizations which gives him a first person perspective on what’s happening in the current political system. He is doing more to understand the politics, giving him more of a right to express these opinions on our court systems specifically. He has done more research and been apart of more than other celebrities who are still sharing their opinion on politics. In , Transnational Celebrity Activism in Global Politics, Liza Tsaliki states “Celebrity activism (or ‘actorvism’) (Andrews 2007) is essentially the same as the lobbying, advocacy and activism conducted by other civil society and interest groups (who also engage in a blend of outspoken public pressure and private lobbying of policy-makers), except for the fact that celebrities generally have the initial advantage of a warmed-up media spotlight and often better access to financial resources.” Tsaliki explains that celebrities are just like advocates for organizations, but the only difference is celebrities have the media as their spotlight so they are able to get more exposure. Advocates are defined as a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Celebrities are doing the exact same thing, so why wouldn’t it be justifiable for them to share their ideas and opinions? Just because their job doesn’t relate or require them to know our current politics doesn’t mean someone can’t express their insight.

Although I believe that celebrities should be able to share their opinions and perspectives on politics using their social platforms, I can see how they might abuse the power of the platform they hold and send out the wrong messages to fans. According to Bontemps, a journalist form the Washington Post, “in the wake of members of the Minnesota Lynx recently wearing “Black Lives Matter” shirts before a game, he said he’s not sure it’s a good idea for players in either league to be making statements involving wearing things before or during games” (Bontemps). Bontemps suggests that there should be a line drawn where it’s acceptable to display political opinions. In this case athletes were sending their political messages out at the wrong time and place. Sporting events are a way of bringing people together, and bringing such debatable topics into these atmospheres can cause division which isn’t the focus.

Politics have always been a debatable topic for many people, depending on your opinions and perspectives. Taking this into consideration, celebrities should be able to speak and share their opinions on politics using the social platform that they hold. When Jimmy Kimmel talked about how ObamaCare affected his son, he no longer seemed like a celebrity because the issues he was facing affect other citizens as well. No matter your profession, everyone should be given a voice to express their perspectives and opinions on politics.