Personally I’ve been blocking influencers and celebrities because I realized that I give them too much attention. They don’t care about me, or what’s happening in the world. Why should I care about or keep up with them? They’re not special. I could find literally anything or anyone to replace them with and it really wouldn’t change anything for me.
It matters that celebrities speak about Palestine because that’s what Palestinians have been begging for — for their reality to be publicised and for people to use their platforms for good, which the majority of people with large platforms have refused to do for fear of losing followers/sponsors. Having said that, I wonder if our energy is best focused on what Palestinians are asking for — from direct donations to BDS to campaigning for divestment — rather than centring celebrities in all of this. Like politicians, they’re never on our side.
i get what you're saying but i think that the list and the bar isn't set in stone. if you feel as if, a celebrity has done enough on that list, you don't have to block them and vice versa. the bar isn't "posting about Palestine", it's to raise awareness to the inequality going on in Palestine and to the large dysfunction between palestianian children trying to stay alive and college students risking their education for protesting for what is right while celebrities gain millions from their ad revenue, that ends up in their pockets. its laughable that these celebrities are scrambling to post something to raise awareness or to raise funds but at this point with everything going on in palestine, i dont think, we in the comfort of our homes, should be picking and choosing at this point, what counts as "awareness" or "genuine", because at the end of the day, the money that these celebrities raise or the awareness they bring can save the lives of at least one palestianian going through this armed conflict. it would be so much better if we knew that all the aid from celebrities were genuine but we won't know and any aid is still aid and to me that is better than nothing at all. at the end of the day, that's just how i feel and similarly to what you said, opinions can change.
I think “blocking celebrities” lobbies the power of the public to put pressure on them to speak about things that go unseen in typical media. Yes the Weeknd might’ve donated 4 million dollars but exactly what is the harm in posting about Gaza, when refugees and citizens of Palestine have specifically requested for people to use social media to show the other side, the side that is being actively oppressed under the guise of “retaliation” for October 7? The oppression before October 7 and invasion of Rafah has given us unequivocal proof that mainstream media cannot be relied upon anymore. Mass blocking of celebrities does help and the excuse of “not knowing enough” no longer holds.
I think as a component to a larger movement to shift culture away from celebrity worship, with the ideals of reclaiming and redirecting our attention & energy where it matters, the blockout is a good first step. I don't believe those participating in the blockout really think that a celebrity posting to their grid will be more effective than the work of decades of Pro-Palestine organizers and activists, but are recognizing celebrities and celebrity influencers as the pretty face on the pro-capitalist/white supremacist boot that keeps the rest of us down. The dissonance between them still wanting us to celebrate their opulence while we're also watching live footage of a genocide happening and our government violently suppressing student encampments on the same app they're using to monetize our attention has simply become too much for many!
i think celebrity culture, late stage capitalism, the rise of fascism, cancel culture & internet lingo have made conversations often extremely tricky to have in a nuanced way, when there is so much nuance. (nb: the genocide in Palestine is NOT what I mean here - that’s extremely obvious, and not nuanced, but the conversations have to be to account for all factors).
Needless to say I think the people of Palestine have the call on what our actions - ‘our’ loosely for us in the west, celebrities included - to be and whether they can tangibly help. Education, self education, spreading awareness and talking to people is often missed across the board because the fear of getting something wrong and being cancelled prevents anyone from wanting to say anything. And it’s true that celebs having such large platforms/money feels so sickening when they are silent. But I also think there is a large element of damned if they do, damned if they don’t, will end up moving the conversation entirely away from the point because it’s then about them. Taylor - definitely should be held to account in more ways than one (climate!!!!), and as a long time fan I wish she would say something - seems to be the benchmark for all celebs in the sphere of performative activism, selfish agendas etc etc., and that in itself interests me. If she said anything about Palestine, would that offer tangible help or just create a lot of noise online about her again? I think monetary support as much as anything would be good from billionaires - billionaires themselves are unethical. But ultimately what is the end goal, I agree, and I would be curious to have this conversation with a celeb publicist because I imagine a lot are told to - rightly or wrongly - steer clear.
If we want activism and we want political change, taking to the streets and protesting, putting pressure on politicians, writing to politicians I think is more productive. If celebs did this too, the movement would be bigger, but I doubt this is realistic tbh
just stopping here to say I loved what you wrote and as I Taylor fan, I wish she would say something too, and I do believe she cares, but I think if she does position herself it will about her and that's the reason maybe she doesn't? I think she's scared from the scrutiny she has received from the public eye all her life (which I get but also am conflicted!!!!!!)
I don't know if I'm just super cynical or what but this whole blocking celebrities is feeling very black square for BLM to me. Good intentions sure, but in reality it feels super... shallow? I do not believe Benjamin Netanyahu is going to stop the attacks on Palestinian people because Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian posted about it, nor do I think those people can make the US government stop supporting Israel. I do hope I'm wrong though.
I don’t think anyone blocking celebrities thinks it’s going to make Netanyahu stop bombing Palestine or end the US support of Israel. It feels quite disingenuous to boil it down to that. I’m not much of a fan of celebrity culture so I personally think it’s a good way to interrogate celebrity worship and parasocial behaviour. It doesn’t have to have a clear aim - it can simply be about wanting to use the limited attention you have for people worthy of that attention. The whole “do people think this will stop the genocide?!” schtick is quite cynical.
I have straight up seen people say that they think Taylor Swift posting about it would stop the attack on Gaza, so maybe I’m just equating those people and these people blocking celebrities and that’s not fair of me. I don’t mean it to be disingenuous, if I thought it would do something to help I’d be all for it, but that is the vibe I’ve been getting from the people I’m seeing do this.
Fair. I don’t follow Taylor Swift so I wouldn’t see that. As far as I can tell she doesn’t comment on anything that impacts other people be it climate change or poverty or genocide so we wouldn’t know what impact her words would have - beyond that Palestinian fans of hers now know she’s not moved enough by their annihilation to say a word. I think it’s somewhat foolish to think she would be against the genocide in the first place but given her power to shift cultural norms due to the fervency of her fan base her silence does make a difference. Just how much of a difference we won’t know.
Well said. It’s bleak to see people frothing these celebrities, putting up these passionate defences and angsting about (imaginary) cancel culture. These are people who would turn you into shoes if they could. The sooner people realise this the better. Why would you reward someone who can’t say “stop killing kids” because it doesn’t fit their grid aesthetic 🫠
I would really recommend this video Luce! https://youtu.be/Kn_xkPt1Ouc?si=w1MqSXXWp_x3m7Mz It's really nuanced about the influence celebrities have on politics and whether they should have influence at all. I found it super interesting to listen to. ☺️
Personally I’ve been blocking influencers and celebrities because I realized that I give them too much attention. They don’t care about me, or what’s happening in the world. Why should I care about or keep up with them? They’re not special. I could find literally anything or anyone to replace them with and it really wouldn’t change anything for me.
and this feels like a DAMN good reason Steph!!!!
It matters that celebrities speak about Palestine because that’s what Palestinians have been begging for — for their reality to be publicised and for people to use their platforms for good, which the majority of people with large platforms have refused to do for fear of losing followers/sponsors. Having said that, I wonder if our energy is best focused on what Palestinians are asking for — from direct donations to BDS to campaigning for divestment — rather than centring celebrities in all of this. Like politicians, they’re never on our side.
i get what you're saying but i think that the list and the bar isn't set in stone. if you feel as if, a celebrity has done enough on that list, you don't have to block them and vice versa. the bar isn't "posting about Palestine", it's to raise awareness to the inequality going on in Palestine and to the large dysfunction between palestianian children trying to stay alive and college students risking their education for protesting for what is right while celebrities gain millions from their ad revenue, that ends up in their pockets. its laughable that these celebrities are scrambling to post something to raise awareness or to raise funds but at this point with everything going on in palestine, i dont think, we in the comfort of our homes, should be picking and choosing at this point, what counts as "awareness" or "genuine", because at the end of the day, the money that these celebrities raise or the awareness they bring can save the lives of at least one palestianian going through this armed conflict. it would be so much better if we knew that all the aid from celebrities were genuine but we won't know and any aid is still aid and to me that is better than nothing at all. at the end of the day, that's just how i feel and similarly to what you said, opinions can change.
I think “blocking celebrities” lobbies the power of the public to put pressure on them to speak about things that go unseen in typical media. Yes the Weeknd might’ve donated 4 million dollars but exactly what is the harm in posting about Gaza, when refugees and citizens of Palestine have specifically requested for people to use social media to show the other side, the side that is being actively oppressed under the guise of “retaliation” for October 7? The oppression before October 7 and invasion of Rafah has given us unequivocal proof that mainstream media cannot be relied upon anymore. Mass blocking of celebrities does help and the excuse of “not knowing enough” no longer holds.
I think as a component to a larger movement to shift culture away from celebrity worship, with the ideals of reclaiming and redirecting our attention & energy where it matters, the blockout is a good first step. I don't believe those participating in the blockout really think that a celebrity posting to their grid will be more effective than the work of decades of Pro-Palestine organizers and activists, but are recognizing celebrities and celebrity influencers as the pretty face on the pro-capitalist/white supremacist boot that keeps the rest of us down. The dissonance between them still wanting us to celebrate their opulence while we're also watching live footage of a genocide happening and our government violently suppressing student encampments on the same app they're using to monetize our attention has simply become too much for many!
i think celebrity culture, late stage capitalism, the rise of fascism, cancel culture & internet lingo have made conversations often extremely tricky to have in a nuanced way, when there is so much nuance. (nb: the genocide in Palestine is NOT what I mean here - that’s extremely obvious, and not nuanced, but the conversations have to be to account for all factors).
Needless to say I think the people of Palestine have the call on what our actions - ‘our’ loosely for us in the west, celebrities included - to be and whether they can tangibly help. Education, self education, spreading awareness and talking to people is often missed across the board because the fear of getting something wrong and being cancelled prevents anyone from wanting to say anything. And it’s true that celebs having such large platforms/money feels so sickening when they are silent. But I also think there is a large element of damned if they do, damned if they don’t, will end up moving the conversation entirely away from the point because it’s then about them. Taylor - definitely should be held to account in more ways than one (climate!!!!), and as a long time fan I wish she would say something - seems to be the benchmark for all celebs in the sphere of performative activism, selfish agendas etc etc., and that in itself interests me. If she said anything about Palestine, would that offer tangible help or just create a lot of noise online about her again? I think monetary support as much as anything would be good from billionaires - billionaires themselves are unethical. But ultimately what is the end goal, I agree, and I would be curious to have this conversation with a celeb publicist because I imagine a lot are told to - rightly or wrongly - steer clear.
If we want activism and we want political change, taking to the streets and protesting, putting pressure on politicians, writing to politicians I think is more productive. If celebs did this too, the movement would be bigger, but I doubt this is realistic tbh
just stopping here to say I loved what you wrote and as I Taylor fan, I wish she would say something too, and I do believe she cares, but I think if she does position herself it will about her and that's the reason maybe she doesn't? I think she's scared from the scrutiny she has received from the public eye all her life (which I get but also am conflicted!!!!!!)
and ultimately am I too forgiving, because I am looking forward to the eras tour. maybe I should ask the AITA subreddit 😭
I don't know if I'm just super cynical or what but this whole blocking celebrities is feeling very black square for BLM to me. Good intentions sure, but in reality it feels super... shallow? I do not believe Benjamin Netanyahu is going to stop the attacks on Palestinian people because Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian posted about it, nor do I think those people can make the US government stop supporting Israel. I do hope I'm wrong though.
I don’t think anyone blocking celebrities thinks it’s going to make Netanyahu stop bombing Palestine or end the US support of Israel. It feels quite disingenuous to boil it down to that. I’m not much of a fan of celebrity culture so I personally think it’s a good way to interrogate celebrity worship and parasocial behaviour. It doesn’t have to have a clear aim - it can simply be about wanting to use the limited attention you have for people worthy of that attention. The whole “do people think this will stop the genocide?!” schtick is quite cynical.
I have straight up seen people say that they think Taylor Swift posting about it would stop the attack on Gaza, so maybe I’m just equating those people and these people blocking celebrities and that’s not fair of me. I don’t mean it to be disingenuous, if I thought it would do something to help I’d be all for it, but that is the vibe I’ve been getting from the people I’m seeing do this.
Fair. I don’t follow Taylor Swift so I wouldn’t see that. As far as I can tell she doesn’t comment on anything that impacts other people be it climate change or poverty or genocide so we wouldn’t know what impact her words would have - beyond that Palestinian fans of hers now know she’s not moved enough by their annihilation to say a word. I think it’s somewhat foolish to think she would be against the genocide in the first place but given her power to shift cultural norms due to the fervency of her fan base her silence does make a difference. Just how much of a difference we won’t know.
I think the goal is a total disengagement and divestment from the current Celebrity culture.
That culture brought us to a world and moment where they are brutalizing protesters for opposing a Genocide.
Celebrities do not create value for the overwhelming majority of us in society, so why are we giving them privileges for deceiving us?
Well said. It’s bleak to see people frothing these celebrities, putting up these passionate defences and angsting about (imaginary) cancel culture. These are people who would turn you into shoes if they could. The sooner people realise this the better. Why would you reward someone who can’t say “stop killing kids” because it doesn’t fit their grid aesthetic 🫠
I would really recommend this video Luce! https://youtu.be/Kn_xkPt1Ouc?si=w1MqSXXWp_x3m7Mz It's really nuanced about the influence celebrities have on politics and whether they should have influence at all. I found it super interesting to listen to. ☺️
Not speaking up enough? Or having the 'wrong' opinion? Aren't we all in danger of silencing voices? This is the epitome of cancel culture.