The Rise and Fall of Celebrity Activism in the Digital Age
In March 2020, as the world grappled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gal Gadot, known to many as Wonder Woman, decided to rally her celebrity friends to create a video of them singing John Lennon’s iconic song “Imagine.” The goal was to boost morale as people began to quarantine. However, the result was far from inspiring. Instead, the video, which featured a group of privileged celebrities singing a song that critiques materialism while they were clearly operating from a place of privilege, was met with widespread criticism and embarrassment. The video somehow managed to make a global pandemic feel even more hopeless. This moment marked a turning point in how we view celebrity activism and the role of public figures in times of crisis.
When Celebrity Activism Falls Flat
The phenomenon of celebrities attempting to inspire their fan bases, only to end up causing collective cringe, is not new. In 2022, actress AnnaLynne McCord, known for her role in the reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210, faced ridicule after she posted a poem she had written to Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The poem began with the line, “I’m so sorry that I was not your mother,” and was met with widespread mockery online. Similarly, in January 2023, Selena Gomez posted an Instagram video where she tearfully discussed the mass arrests of migrants during the first week of President Donald Trump’s new term. While the issue is deeply personal to Gomez—she is the granddaughter of undocumented immigrants and has been an advocate for immigration reform—her emotional plea was met with criticism. Conservative pundits criticized her message, and others accused her of being overly theatrical.
A Different Approach: Hunter Schafer’s Authenticity
However, not all attempts at celebrity activism end in failure. Hunter Schafer, the transgender star of Euphoria, recently posted a nearly nine-minute-long TikTok video recounting her experience with a new passport that listed her gender as “male” due to a Trump administration executive order recognizing only biological sex, not gender identity. Schafer, who has identified as female since her teens, explained that her passport had been stolen while she was working abroad, and she had to replace it upon her return to the United States. She described her shock and dismay at the change, not because it affected her self-perception, but because of the practical difficulties it posed, such as going through customs and having to “out myself to border-patrol agents.”
Schafer’s video was well-received, with many viewers appreciating her straightforward and unembellished account of her experience. Unlike Gadot, McCord, and Gomez, Schafer avoided the pitfalls of seeming insincere or overly dramatic. Instead, her video was shared widely across social media, serving as a clear example of how the new policy was impacting transgender individuals. Her approach was simple: she told her story frankly, without expecting anything in return, and without encouraging her followers to take specific actions. She presented her experience as a “harsh reality check” and expressed her fear of how such policies could become normalized over time.
The Shift in the Celebrity-Fan Dynamic
The differing receptions of these celebrity attempts at activism highlight a broader shift in how we view and interact with public figures in the digital age. Celebrities have never been more accessible, with social media platforms allowing them to share intimate details of their lives and connect directly with fans. However, this increased accessibility has also led to heightened scrutiny. When celebrities use these platforms to activism, their motives are often questioned, and their efforts can come across as calculated rather than genuine. This dynamic explains why Gadot’s and McCord’s efforts were seen as tone-deaf and overly staged, while Schafer’s video was received more positively. Schafer’s lack of expectation for how her video would be received, combined with her straightforward and measured delivery, made her message more compelling and less prone to criticism.
The Power of Authenticity and Restraint
So, what do people want from celebrities when they engage with broader social and political issues? Schafer’s video offers a clue. By being clear, direct, and unassuming, she was able to convey her message effectively without alienating her audience. She neither sought to fearmonger nor to garner sympathy but simply to highlight the reality of the situation. This approach starkly contrasts with the more emotional and performative attempts of Gadot and Gomez, which, while sincere, often ended up overshadowing the message they intended to convey. Schafer’s restraint and authenticity allowed her to cut through the noise and deliver a message that resonated with many viewers. Her video serves as a prime example of how, in the current digital landscape, linear, unvarnished communication can be far more powerful than grand gestures or emotional appeals.
In conclusion, the evolving relationship between celebrities and their audience in the digital age has created a challenging landscape for celebrity activism. While Gadot, McCord, and Gomez’s efforts were met with criticism for being tone-deaf or overly dramatic, Schafer’s straightforward and authentic approach demonstrates a more effective way for celebrities to engage with social issues. By being transparent, measured, and unassuming, Schafer was able to communicate her message without facing the same backlash. As the dynamics between celebrities and their audiences continue to shift, it’s clear that authenticity and restraint will be key for any public figure looking to make an impact.