Raquelle Elson
| FSView
Lately, fans of pop superstar Taylor Swift have claimed to feel disillusioned by her recent silence on current political events. Swift’s silence on the issue of Palestine and the use of false AI material by Trump’s campaign alleging her support has led some fans to question her alliances. Taylor’s silence on relevant topics and vagueness on others have proven to be problematic, and her most recent one makes no difference.
The moment the presidential debate ended on Sept. 10, a statement was posted to Swift’s Instagram account. In it, she voiced her intent to vote for Vice President Harris and encouraged fans to register and do their research.
“It really conjured up my fears around Al, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” Swift stated, criticizing the fake AI endorsements. “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter.”
It was apparent that this statement had been planned, as the Harris-Walz campaign immediately released friendship bracelets.
Swift’s word choice caught the eyes of many, though. While she voiced support for the Vice President, she also advocated for voting rather than condemning her opponent. This attitude comes off almost lackluster in the face of such an important election.
Celebrities are given a unique position in which they have thousands, even millions, of people hanging onto their every word. This allows them to be the most influential activists and make strides that community organizers could only dream of. To squander that opportunity after promising to utilize it creates discontentment amongst marginalized fans.
While she may have made a statement, Taylor has had a past of staying silent in the face of politics. Not only does she utilize her influence sparsely, but she rarely does work to advocate for people different from her.
Rarely, if ever, does she speak out on behalf of issues that plague communities other than white women and occasionally LGBTQ+ people, which is deeply harmful. This impacts not only her fans of color who feel overlooked but also her white fans who might unintentionally dismiss issues affecting others.
Swift’s silence struck a chord with many fans because she previously promised always to use her platform to take a stance. This derives from her 2020 Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana.” One of the most impactful segments of the film was the one in which she expressed her discontentment with ignoring her political beliefs to placate the feelings of politicians.
However, Swift seemingly lost her grit. She created a political identity for herself but has forsaken it entirely, which has left fans searching for the outspoken woman she promised to be.
Other fans, however, have rushed to the star’s defense, citing various explanations as to why she has not spoken out.
Following the cancellation of her Venice shows due to threats of terrorism, many claim she is holding her tongue to ensure the safety of her fans. Others cite the documentary and previous support for Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign as the only necessary statement.
The most out-of-touch argument, however, is the notion that she is in danger of losing fans if she speaks out in support or opposition to these controversial issues. This is an inaccurate view of Swift’s status in the world, as she has pretty clearly reached a height of stardom no one has before. Given that less famous artists are often outspokenly political, one wonders if she fears losing any part of her fanbase—and potential income.
“I appreciate Hozier for not shying away from activism through his songs and monologues at his concerts,” sophomore Julia Lombardi said. “He talks about a bunch of stuff like LGBTQ rights, apartheid, women’s rights, and his monologue at Boston Calling was super empowering because he encouraged unity and showing up with kindness.”
This issue has highlighted the broader idea of why it matters that a celebrity, especially one of her stature, speaks out in support of various causes. While the answers might be obvious– to raise awareness and to influence a wider demographic of people– they are also demonstrated constantly.
“Bridgerton” actress Nicola Coughlan shared a link to donate aid to Palestine while doing a press tour and was able to raise $1.9 million in seven months. The register to vote link posted in tandem with Swift’s statement generated 306,422 visitors to the Vote.org website.
“I think there is the ‘Taylor Swift effect,’ but generally speaking, our ties to our neighbors or our in-person friends are not what they used to be,” Sociology professor Dr. Kelly L. Russell said. “We spend a lot more time online so I think people feel a lot more connected to their Instagram friends than they do people at school, people they see every day. That’s a sociological phenomenon as we are seeing our social ties change – with social media, with various changes in our society, with a decline in trust in institutions, with a decline in our time spent in institutional spaces.”
People value the voices of their favorite celebrities over their fellow citizens. Although this viewpoint is problematic, it can be partially addressed when celebrities use their platform to amplify marginalized voices.
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Publish date : 2024-09-20 09:14:00
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