As the 2024 election heats up, an army of celebrities is lining up behind Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, echoing a long tradition of Hollywood's partisan support. However, this predictable campaign tactic has long been met with apathy, highlighting the disconnect between the entertainment industry and the general public.
With midterm elections fast approaching, the usual suspects are once again trooping out to throw their support behind Democrat candidates. This time, their target is Vice President Kamala Harris, but the strategy seems as worn-out as the latest Hollywood franchise.
Every single one of the top 10 films of 2024 is a sequel. The same could be said for celebrity support of the left. Many of Harris's big-name backers are election veterans, whose support has been as reliable as Bruce Springsteen's checks.
Hollywood's Tired Election Gambit: Celebrity Endorsements Flood the Scene
Springsteen, despite his self-proclaimed working-class persona, has been promoting leftist causes since the 1970s. His support for Democrats is as predictable as his bank balance.
Linda Ronstadt, another mainstay of the left, has been singing for Democrats since the Carter era. Her performances for the Clintons and Biden keep her in the limelight.
Hollywood's Tired Election Gambit: Celebrity Endorsements Flood the Scene
Barbra Streisand, the epitome of the left-wing star, has been backing Democratic candidates since George McGovern's disastrous campaign in 1972.
The media hype surrounding celebrity endorsements is as old as the celebrities themselves. Yet, from now until Election Day, entertainment news will be filled with stars courageously declaring their support for Democrats.
Hollywood's Tired Election Gambit: Celebrity Endorsements Flood the Scene
They did it for Biden, for Clinton, for Obama, for Kerry, for Gore, and for Bill Clinton. The list goes on and on.
In fact, this is just another sequel in the Hollywood vs. Trump saga. Celebrities were roundly mocked when they tried this tactic with Trump's first run for office, in the distant year of 2016.
Hollywood's Tired Election Gambit: Celebrity Endorsements Flood the Scene
Joss Whedon's "Save the Day" propaganda videos, featuring the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Martin Sheen, were a spectacular failure.
Today, thanks to social media, every presidential race is a must-see event for Hollywood's elite. Younger stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan have joined the graying ranks of Harris supporters.
Hollywood's Tired Election Gambit: Celebrity Endorsements Flood the Scene
Roan, an extreme anti-Israel activist, drew criticism for her initial anti-Trump video's criticisms of "both sides." She quickly reversed course, declaring her support for Harris after facing backlash for criticizing Democrats.
Harris, whose public appearances are as cringeworthy as the show "Veep," has even managed to secure an endorsement from Taylor Swift, one of the few remaining A-list names in Hollywood.
Hollywood's Tired Election Gambit: Celebrity Endorsements Flood the Scene
Swift's support for Harris is unsurprising, given her endorsement of Biden in 2020. Her rambling endorsement, filled with leftist jargon, highlights the disconnect between celebrities and their audience.
Campaigning for Democrats and their policies only reinforces the perception that celebrities are out of touch. But for has-beens and never-was performers, it's a way to stay relevant and get their names in the news.
Hollywood producers are happy to overlook personal controversies when it comes to stars who support their favorite candidates. Just ask Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski.
So, as the election season unfolds, remember that while the stars may seem to be out to support Harris, they're mostly out to promote their own brands. Their endorsements are a tired, unoriginal, and ultimately irrelevant part of the political landscape.
