Ellie Urry
Whilst never tranquil nor peaceful, the current political world is tumultuous and full of conflict. This has never been truer than with the current United States presidential election: Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris.
Having been coined the ‘closest presidential race of the century’, it is no surprise that celebrities are weighing in with their political beliefs. But, is this the way to go? Or are their opinions being forced upon us, the general public, despite no desire to hear them?
Modern fandoms demand political action from their favourite stars
Chappell Roan (singer/songwriter) believes that, yes, celebrities’ political opinions should indeed remain private. She encouraged her fan base to “use [their] critical thinking skills, use [their] vote.” Despite clarifying that she would not be voting for Donald Trump, her statement furthered the idea that celebrities should not feel pressure to endorse political figures, and that members of the public should make their own voting choices, rather than listening to their favourite singers and actors.
Modern fandoms demand political action from their favourite stars; however, this is not Chappell’s responsibility, and she should not be forced to endorse a candidate.
Ultimately, celebrities are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. It is impossible to please everyone, and this is just a clear example of that.
Sanya Tayal
Celebrity representation in Indian politics can be traced back to the 1960s, when Prithviraj Kapoor first entered the parliament as the nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. Since then, numerous celebrities have been deeply involved with politics.
I believe celebrities should not be political figures and associate themselves with political parties
However, in a democracy like India, when a celebrity enters the political arena, they bring along a dedicated fanbase that can significantly influence electoral outcomes. They can leverage their influence as public figures to sway public opinion and create robust voting banks. This is taken advantage of by the political parties. For instance, in the 2024 elections, the BJP's win in the Mandi constituency is due to its recruitment of the actress Kangana Ranaut. Therefore, this brings us to a significant question: should celebrities be political figures?
I believe celebrities should not be political figures and associate themselves with political parties, considering their tendency to influence public opinion through their brand value. Celebrities, due to their busy schedules and lack of understanding of political issues and policies, could barely contribute to the important issues in the Parliament. For example, Sachin Tendulkar, a famous cricketer, was criticized by the public for his lack of participation throughout his term in Rajya Sabha.
However, celebrities have powerful voices, which can actually create an impact. But they can use their influence even without being associated with a political party. For instance, during the general elections, celebrities used their influence to encourage citizens to vote by posting pictures with the election ink on social media.