If I had a platform that millions of people listened to (which I don’t), and strongly held beliefs about how the country could be made better for everyone (which I do), why wouldn’t I use my platform to share those beliefs? How could I not?
No one MUST obey what either of them says, just like no one would be compelled to obey me in my hypothetical. But I don’t really have a problem with any person using whatever platform they’ve found themselves with to express their own beliefs and desires. I don’t think people lose the right to free expression just because they are rich and/or famous and/or powerful.
Edit: And if you piss a lot of people off and lose all your advertisers because your opinions are repugnant and awful - well hey, that’s the choice you made.
Ironically, Taylor Swift was, up to this point, trying very hard NOT to use her platform. Just read her post. She’s BEGGING the reader not to blindly follow her in voting, and do their own research and make their own choice. She’d said she’d wait until after her tour to endorse a candidate (which would have been after the election 🤣 ), but she says in her post that the AI DeepFake Endorsement she ‘made’ of Trump compelled her to give up her secret ballot and outright state she’s voting for Harris.
Great point and apologies for glossing over that. I guess my reply just blurred into my general opinion about people dismissing or being grumpy about “celebrity” endorsements or political statements.
I hear ya. Yeah, I do agree with ‘you shouldn’t make a political opinion based on what a celebrity does,’ but the reality is that people might waiver until they hear someone they like and trust (like a celebrity) makes a decision. Sad fact of life in this popularity contest we call a political system. ;)
