Is The Era Of The Celebrity Political Endorsement Officially Over?

With all due respect to actors like Kelsey Grammer and Jon Voight who endorsed Donald Trump, it’s safe to say that most of the endorsements that came out of Hollywood during the 2024 election cycle were for Kamala Harris.

But in the end, it didn’t seem to matter. Trump won both the electoral college and popular vote and will be returning to the White House in January despite the best efforts of A-listers.

Stars go dim

There have been a few celebrity-backed efforts that have moved the needle in previous elections, but today’s statements often get lost in the noise of social media or just come across as generic and uninspired.

Another factor is the increased polarization of the American people. While a sliver of undecided voters might be swayed by a compelling celebrity endorsement, the vast majority have already made up their minds.

That means stars are increasingly weighing the consequences of potentially alienating a large portion of their fanbase to issue an endorsement that would, at best, reinforce the opinions of people who were already planning to vote for that candidate.

Hillary’s diagnosis

No, this segment isn’t about the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. Instead, it’s an examination of a new article by writer Hillary Frey. She recalled a time when stars really seemed to be authentic and creative when it came to advocating on behalf of candidates and causes.

There’s no doubt that celebrity endorsements don’t carry as much weight as they once did. I mean, Harris had T-Swift, Beyonce, and Oprah in her corner for crying out loud.

But if they can recapture the raw, passionate energy of “Future Soundtrack for America” — an album featuring multiple independent artists released ahead of the 2004 election — Frey thinks there might still be room for celebrity endorsements in the future.

Chris Agee November 14th, 2024

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