Here's the problem with celebrity boycotts

There's no question that celebrity culture is fed up. Especially when the world seems to be getting more and more chaotic by the day.

So when New York's Met Gala was canceled on the same day that Israel launched an attack on the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, it's understandable that social media users pointed to the dystopian contrast.

Pro-Palestinian activists have begun to focus on the failure of many of the celebrities who attended fashion's biggest night to speak out about the more than 30,000 lives lost in the Gaza Strip in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. . Their voices got louder after influencer Hailey Khalil posted a video on TikTok of her wearing a Marie Antoinette-inspired dress and lip-syncing the words “Let them eat cake” on TikTok, which has since been deleted. became.

TikTok user @ladyfromtheoutside responded to the video and urged people to block celebrities who have remained silent about the ongoing conflict, including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Drake, Justin Bieber, and countless others. It called for a “digital guillotine,” a campaign calling on social media users. The hope is that this could have a significant economic impact.

This is not the first time Gen Z activists have launched a boycott demanding a ceasefire and divestment from Israel. They have also led the charge in accusing companies and universities they believe are complicit. However, when it comes to celebrities, things can get a little more complicated.

On this week's “I Know That's Right,” writer Shenequa Golding said fans expecting celebrities to discuss sensitive social issues when they “don't have the range” could be disappointed. Ta.

“Not every celebrity has the scope to discuss certain things. Talent doesn't permeate literacy here,” said Golding, author of “A Black Girl in the Middle.” Stated.

“For me, asking someone to speak up can be self-defeating,” she says, adding that celebrities are welcome to speak out on sociopolitical issues. He pointed out that.

Moreover, the success of a boycott depends on how committed the community is to the campaign. It's easy to jump in and participate in conversations online, but in this particular case it can be a challenge. At this point in the game, celebrities who decide to speak out because their following is dwindling end up coming off as disloyal.

Gen Z's hearts are in the right place when it comes to efforts to end this conflict. But I wonder if a viral push to block hundreds of celebrities (who are very human and can be very disappointing) is expending a lot of energy in the wrong direction. I feel that there is.