The year 2016 was a huge for politics. With the Trump vs. Clinton election, people were more involved than ever, specifically performers. Pop stars began to use their platforms to get their fans and followers interested in politics and exercise their right to vote. While they were wanting to get their fans to vote for who they wanted to, that didn’t stop them from promoting their candidate, which was Clinton for a majority. At one of Clinton’s rallies, big names such as Jay-Z and Beyonce performed. The New York Times quoted Jay-Z when he said, “He cannot be my president. He cannot be our president.” Chance the Rapper, a very prominent Clinton supporter, took this a step further. He hosted a “Parade to the Polls” which was a free concert in Chicago. When the concert ended, he led a group of attendees to an early voting station. Other get-out-the-vote concerts were held by Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, Ne-Yo and Stevie Wonder.
Many artists including John Legend, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Sia, Miley Cyrus and several others used social media to encourage their fan bases to go out and vote. On Twitter, Legend tweeted, “Donald Trump is unfit for the office of president. Fortunately, there’s an exceptionally qualified candidate @HillaryClinton.” Many others used the hashtag “#ImWithHer” to show their support to Clinton.
Christina Aguilera wrote, “The definition of a fighter is someone who doesn’t give up. Hillary, this one’s for you. #ImWithHer #Vote #Fighter”
For a majority, the vote did not end the way they were hoping. This didn’t stop them from expressing their upset over the election. Lady Gaga took to Instagram with a picture of her with a “Love Trumps Hate” sign. DW quoted Katy Perry when she said “We are not a nation that will let hate lead us.” Performers such as Elton John, Céline Dion and Idina Menzel reportedly turned down performing at Trump’s inauguration in January according to Entertainment Weekly. After being rejected by numerous icons, Trump ended up having to settle with Three Doors Down and Jackie Evancho, which compared to Obama’s inauguration including Beyonce and Aretha Franklin makes Donald Trump’s look like a joke.
But just tweeting and posting on social media wasn’t the only thing they were doing. Many celebrities joined the Women’s Marches all across the country.
Celebrities at the events included Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Alicia Keys, Halsey, Idina Menzel, Zendaya, Katy Perry and more. Keys gave a powerful speech saying, “We will not allow our bodies to be owned and controlled by men in government, or men anywhere for that matter… We want the best for all Americans. No hate. No bigotry. No Muslim registry.” Keys continues on saying that our voices will be heard and that we are here to put up a fight for our country.
While some people believe that celebrities can’t understand what “normal” citizens of the United States are going through and that they are just “liberal snowflakes” crying about the election, they are people. They live in this world and they may be better off than most, but they still deal with the everyday struggles of being human. They have not been using their influence to brainwash, but to express to their fanbases that they have a voice, too, and they shouldn’t be afraid to use it. As Americans, we are allowed to show our support for whoever we want. Celebrities are doing just that—expressing their beliefs and influencing others to do the same.
