Lisa Idzikowski - Celebrities in Politics

Celebrities in Politics

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Published in 2020 by Greenhaven Publishing, LLC

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Copyright 2020 by Greenhaven Publishing, LLC

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Articles in Greenhaven Publishing anthologies are often edited for length to meet page requirements. In addition, original titles of these works are changed to clearly present the main thesis and to explicitly indicate the authors opinion. Every effort is made to ensure that Greenhaven Publishing accurately reflects the original intent of the authors. Every effort has been made to trace the owners of the copyrighted material.

Cover image: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Idzikowski, Lisa, editor.

Title: Celebrities in politics / Lisa Idzikowski, book editor.

Description: First edition. | New York: Greenhaven Publishing, 2020. | Series: At issue | Includes bibliographical references and index. |

Audience: Grade 9 to 12.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018061360| ISBN 9781534505186 (library bound) | ISBN 9781534505193 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Mass mediaPolitical aspectsUnited StatesJuvenile literature. | CelebritiesPolitical activityUnited StatesJuvenile literature. | Motion picture actors and actressesPolitical activityUnited StatesJuvenile literature. | Political cultureUnited StatesJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC P95.82.U6 C45 2020 | DDC 306.2dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018061360

Manufactured in the United States of America

Website: http://greenhavenpublishing.com

Contents

Deborah Shaw

Seth Masket

Nives Zubcevic-Basic

Brian Cowan

Natalie Zarrelli

Shontavia Johnson

Murray Forman

Juliet Winter

Humanitarian Campaigns

Andres Jimenez

Elizabeth Duthie, Diogo Verssimo, Aidan Keane, and Andrew T. Knight

Andrew Trounson

Jonathan Stray

Danielle Kurtzleben

Pew Research Center

David French

GLOBSEC

Benjie Goodhart

Introduction

E ntertainers, professional athletes, musicians, actors, comedians, and singersone of these probably comes to mind when one thinks of a celebrity. Many people enjoy watching professional sports, movies, and television shows for entertainment or relaxation. But does viewing go beyond simple entertainment? Do the celebritiesthe athletes, actors, musical artists, and entertainershave influence over people in their audience? Do audience members either knowingly or unknowingly allow the celebrities to possess this influence over them? This phenomenon may be significant. A Rasmussen Report poll in 2017 relates that 79% of American adults believe that others in the US pay too much attention to celebrities instead of news that really matters.

Without a doubt, professional athletes and entertainment celebrities influence others. Most parents have experienced this firsthand if their children are involved in organized sports. Many kids emulate their favorite sports stars and see them as role models, and some athletes embrace and deliver on the challenge. The same can also be said of other entertainers.

So where is the controversy? It tends to occur when celebrities become involved in politics. It prompts a number of questions about how far the influence of celebrities should extend. Should celebrities be active in the political sphere? Should celebrities influence others in the area of politics, or even become celebrities themselves? All are worthy of exploration, particularly in a celebrity-centric culture.

But despite how contemporary this issue may seem, celebrities have been involved in politics in many different ways since almost the beginning of the United States. Some authors suggest that even though celebrity status looked different in the era before technology, early military heroes like George Washington and One of the most well-known and wellloved heartthrobs and singers of the era, Frank Sinatra, openly and eagerly supported Kennedy.

Fast forward to today, with the #MeToo and Times Up movements taking the US and the world by storm. Many celebrities are involved in both of these political and social movements. Steven Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, said in 2018 that Times Up is the single most powerful potential political movement in the world. But not everyone agrees that celebrities should put their energy into these venues.

Some question whether celebrities should be involved in politics or speak out about social issues. Proponents argue that it is well within their rights as US citizens. One reason voters want celebrities to be involved in politics, they say, is because politicians (and the people that typically have been involved in politics) have not lived up to their expectations. A Gallup Poll demonstrates this fact and how this disappointment in government has evolved over time. In November of 2018, 74% of Americans disapproved of the job that Congress was doing. Compare that to April of 1974, when only 47% disapproved. It follows that Americans want to vote for someone outside the typical political sphere. They want someone to drain the swamp, as Donald Trump proclaimed often during his presidential campaign.

Some critics of celebrities as politicians argue that celebrities should quit claiming theyre going to run for president, regardless of whether it is a well-known celebrity like Kanye West or Dwayne The Rock Johnson, or individuals that have already served in some form of governmental position, like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jesse The Body Ventura (who both served as state governors). Some critics even go so far to say that Ronald Reagan, actor turned fortieth US president, and Donald Trump have no business running the country due to their lack of political experience.

But aside from celebrity politicians, what about celebrities that want to pursue social or humanitarian causes? Should they be vocal or demonstrative? One would be right to guess that there are both critics and proponents of this kind of activism. In the 1960s, well-liked entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte, Muhammad Ali, and others spoke out strongly for civil rights. By the 1980s, Meryl Streep was testifying before Congress about pesticides in Americas food supply. In the past several years a few actors in particular have extended themselves into social campaigns around the world. George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Angelina Jolie stand out among a considerable group of celebrities. Oprah has done much to educate girls in Africa by starting the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, and Jolie has supported many campaigns of humanitarian relief, including in her role as an ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission. However, there are also concerns that celebrities become involved in activism and humanitarian work without fully informing themselves, which can cause more harm than good.