Celebrities shouldn’t try to influence fans’ politics

If it isn’t clear already, politics has taken over Hollywood. It’s forcing its way into hit songs, performances, award shows and Twitter feeds.

Several events that have happened in the past few years, such as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting, the election of Donald Trump and predatory sexual assault hidden in Hollywood, media and other industries have sparked celebrities to use their social media platforms as political platforms—or, more specifically, as political propaganda.

This year at the 2018 American Music Awards, award announcers like Billy Eichner and host Tracee Ellis Ross made overtly political statements. Throughout the award show, there was encouragement to vote, but only in support for more liberal causes.

“Please grab your friends and tell them to vote,” Eichner said. “Now is the time. If you believe in equality for women, for people of color, for the LGBTQ community. If you believe that climate change is real and that we need to do something about it [and] you can go to Vote.org like Taylor Swift told you to.”

There’s a difference between encouraging people to vote and telling them to vote specifically for certain causes. Part of being an American is having the freedom of choosing what you believe in and whether or not to exercise your right to vote. In fact, immigrants come to this country just to have this freedom.

Celebrities with strong fanbases realize they have significant influence over their followers and use this to their advantage. They are trying to influence the young and impressionable in order to get them to support their own political agendas.

All the political talk coming from celebrities isn’t allowing kids to form their own beliefs. The younger generations are only following those they look up to, instead of figuring out their own beliefs themselves.

We are told to vote, who to vote for and how celebrities beliefs are superior. People shouldn’t be scrutinized for having different opinions if their views don’t match up to those in Hollywood. 

Just remember, you have a right to believe what you want, and that never makes you wrong.