Noah Schnapp, most known for his role in “Stranger Things,” released a very controversial apology video surrounding his comments on the Isreal-Palestine conflict. Around the same time, Brittany Broski, an American social media personality, also released an apology video, responding to fans asking why she had not commented at all.
In light of these recent apology videos, and the history of others, celebrities and influencers seem confused about whether they should comment on issues or stick to their entertainment.
“It depends on the topic and if they are educated on it,” said sophomore Grace Greer, a public health major. “Most celebrities are not educated in that regard, so they probably should refrain from it.”
“Honestly, I think they should, but mostly if it’s to spread awareness to a cause or something,” said freshman Maci Martin, an elementary education major. “Since they have such big platforms and diverse audiences, I think by speaking on a subject, more people will become aware of what’s happening.”
Jamie Lee Curtis is also under fire right now regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. In October 2023, Curtis posted a photo of what she thought were Israeli children with the caption “TERROR FROM THE SKIES.” After discovering that the children were Palestinian, she took the post down. Viewers took this as a sign that she did not support Palestine.
But the issue of celebrities speaking out goes beyond the Israel-Palestine conflict. Celebrities have a large platform with thousands or millions of people watching their every move. With these huge platforms, it is hard for people to decide if they want to hear what celebrities have to say.
On Jan. 11, Jelly Roll, Jason DeFord, a country singer, gave an empowering speech to Congress about the effects fentanyl has had on his life. He starts the speech by explaining he is a musician with no political affiliation. Using statistics and personal experience to back up his speech, he tells congress why he feels the fentanyl issue deserves more attention.
“This post will be controversial for some,” said singer-songwriter and actress P!nk in a post on X. “At this point, breathing is controversial.”
“I am a human,” P!nk said. “I believe in peace. Equality. Love. I am deeply saddened by the state of the world. I pray for all of us.”
Celebrities are often put in a “lose-lose” position. With “cancel culture” on the rise, they fear if they speak on a subject, they might not say the right things. But if they do not speak on a subject, it can be seen as they do not care.
“From a reputation management perspective, it can be very risky to discuss topics about which people have such strong feelings,” said Mikkel Christensen, a public relations professor at GC. “There is a whole lot to risk and often not a lot to gain. Someone can have a huge platform because of their songwriting, acting or athletic abilities. But they don’t really know more about these issues than anyone else”.
