Should Celebrities and Politics Mix?

Image via The Paw Print

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Politics are everywhere, dividing us, uniting us, and often tearing us apart. Although some of us don’t want to admit it, celebrities are just as omnipresent, appearing in headlines, advertisements, and billboards. Therefore, when celebrities and politics mix, the outcome is always interesting. This raises an ongoing question: should celebrities, with their platforms, speak out about current events? Or is it best for them to keep their views and beliefs to themselves?

American actress, Sydney Sweeney, broke headlines in January for her interview in Cosmopolitan Magazine. When asked about being given the title of “MAGA Barbie,” Sweeney stated, “​​I’ve never been here to talk about politics. I’ve always been here to make art, so this is just not a conversation I want to be at the forefront of. And I think because of that, people want to take it even further and use me as their own pawn. But it’s somebody else assigning something to me, and I can’t control that.”

Earlier this month, on February 1, the 68th annual Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, California. The hottest accessory on the red carpet was not Miley Cyrus’s massive brooch, but pins reading “ICE OUT.” Similar pins, including “ICE OUT” and “BE GOOD,” were also worn at the 83rd Golden Globes Awards in January, to honor the life of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by ICE Agents. 

This year’s Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, were heavily infused with political commentary. He made numerous pokes at President Trump during the broadcast, including the quip, “That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense … because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.” The Grammys was not only a night of celebrating the past year’s music, artists, and those who passed away. It was also a night where  celebrities used their acceptance speeches to express their political views. Country music artist, Jelly Roll, who won “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song” for his song, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” later downplayed his influence stating, “People shouldn’t care to hear my opinion. I’m a dumb redneck.” On the other hand, in Billie Eilish’s acceptance speech for winning “Song of the Year” for her song “WILDFLOWER,” she stated “F*ck ICE. No one is illegal on stolen land.” Puertorican singer, Bad Bunny, who is set to perform at the Super Bowl LX Halftime show, won multiple awards and proclaimed during his Album of the Year acceptance speech, “ICE Out. We’re not savages. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.” While award shows are typically just a night for celebrating music, this year’s ceremonies were accompanied by politics and outcries. 

Celebrity engagement with politics has extended beyond award shows. Martha Stewart recently posted a message sent from her granddaughter on Instagram, in which her granddaughter condemns Stewart for not using her platform to speak out against the current administration and ongoing events in the country, stating, “I’m not sure it’s excusable to not be speaking up right now.” Her post joins a long string of celebrities using their platforms to share their political opinions. In response, Stewart wrote “Things must and have to change quickly and peacefully.”

I believe there is no harm in celebrities sharing their political opinions and views. In addition to their profession, I think that they also have a responsibility to share their opinions, especially when it comes to educating people on current events and pressing issues. As our world becomes increasingly polarized, it will be interesting to see how other events, such as the Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, continue to serve as platforms for political expression, whether through speeches, symbolism, or silent protest.

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This article was edited by Karol Quinde.