STARS SHOW TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE
BY: LEXI COYLE MCDONALD
LIFESTYLE HEAD
Pictured: Nicole Ari Parker and her daughter at a protest for Black Lives Matter.
It is time to leverage your platform, whatever it is, to address the racial inequalities in America. Those with arguably the most influence over society are celebrities. We listen to these people on the radio all day, we watch them during movie nights, we see them compete in sports competitions, and with their millions of dedicated followers and fans, one post can help tip the balance to make the difference in someone’s opinion. A multitude of celebrities have been speaking out and have been spotted at protests, but some still disappoint us with the lack of fanbase usage that pertains to current events.
Two stars who have had strong responses are Ariana Grande and Harry Styles, among many others, such as Halsey, Jamie Foxx, Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Sampson, and Shawn Mendes. Ariana Grande was apart of the protests in Los Angeles for George Floyd. She also expressed her disapproval of the media coverage by tweeting "hours and miles of peaceful protesting yesterday that got little to no coverage...we were passionate, we were loud, we were loving. cover this too” (Quote Credit).
She has been outspoken many times about racial inequality and urges her fans to sign petitions, make donations, have hard conversations about race and privilege, and stay updated and educated. Harry Styles went to a Los Angeles protest on June 3rd in the proper protective gear with sunglasses and a mask.
He did not make the protest about him or his celebrity status at all and also posted on his Instagram account which boasts almost 30 million followers that he is “privileged every day because [he is] white. Being not racist is not enough, we must be anti-racist. Social change is enacted when a society mobilizes...Look inwards, educate yourself, and others” (Quote Credit).
On the opposite side, two celebs who have gotten backlash for their responses are Madison Beer and Lea Michele, although these are only a couple out of many. Ariana Grande, an extremely famous and well-recognized figure, did not have a photoshoot, while Madison Beer, a lesser-known influencer, had one.
While Halsey was calling for justice for the many murders, Madison posted a live video about her struggle of being the “beauty standard” and complained about being too pretty (yeah, that should not sit right). The photographer early on admitted it was staged, but later repudiated his statement after pressure from Madison Beer, even though he was hired earlier many times to photograph Madison ( Quote ).
Beer also got into a scandal in 2016, seventeen at the time, for lip-syncing the n-word in a video snap. Lea Michele has come under fire for her racist remarks towards multiple brands, including Brandy Melville, L’Oreal, and Dollskill, and is getting exposed for previous racist behaviour she exhibited. A former understudy to Lea Michele, Elizabeth Aldrich, claims that Michele “was absolutely awful to [her] and the ensemble,” and that “she demeaned the crew and threatened to have people fired if she was in any way displeased,” which led Aldrich to “cry every night from the mean and manipulative things [Michele] would do” (Credit). There have also been many more black actors and actresses who say they have dealt with similar things while on set, as pictured.
It is becoming more and more clear that performative activism is a major issue that must be addressed within many social spheres. It takes more than just a verbal commitment to enact change, especially when you have a platform that reaches millions. Hopefully, the progress that movements have been making recently will continue to impact and form celebrities’ public responses.
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