The Golden Globe Awards this past week have caused quite the controversy. As Meryl Streep accepted the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award, she took the opportunity to take aim at president-elect Donald Trump. Without even uttering his name, she referenced his mockery of a disabled journalist and stated: “When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”
Streep’s speech was executed with eloquence. But even the most eloquent of speakers would likely be unable to sway Americans’ political opinions.
Whether you agree with her politics or not, her speech spurred a larger debate: should celebrities use their platforms for political activism?
Meryl Streep is certainly not the first celebrity to use their public platform to bring awareness to larger political or social issues. Just last Tuesday, actress Jane Fonda arrived in Fort McMurray to bring awareness to the concerns of indigenous peoples in regards to resource development. Fonda was quickly met with backlash from locals, who reminded her many local indigenous people depend on the oilsands for employment opportunity.
Similarly, when actor Leonardo DiCaprio filmed The Revenant in Alberta, he claimed the warm winds were proof of global warming, when in fact he was experiencing a chinook.
Many celebrities feel the need to take up a cause – in part to form their brand, and in part to use their fame for good. Too often, celebrities, such as the aforementioned, are not fully informed on an issue before they speak out. Celebrities also contribute to problematic aid attempts, perpetuating the white saviour complex that is far too common in western philanthropy.
Celebrity-led activism is largely based in the idea that in order for a social or political issue to be resolved, we simply need more awareness. These campaigns are successful in garnering attention, however, issues are rarely ever so simplistic.
In efforts to remain as accessible as possible, celebrities often simplify complex issues – veiling complex socioeconomic and power dynamics in favour of a broad solution. Rather than supporting grass-roots efforts in which organizations interact directly with those impacted by an issue, celebrities often work with large organizations more fitting to their brand, that are far less personal – and therefore, far less effective.
Ultimately, Leonardo DiCaprio preaches a message of environmental responsibility across the globe, and while I believe this is a worthy endeavour, he does so while travelling on gas-guzzling private jets. He speaks of the way in which indigenous populations are victim to the systems of colonialism, and yet he is a millionaire, white actor who is the beneficiary of that system. There are very few, if any, celebrity-endorsed activism campaigns that do not sting with such hypocrisy.
I believe the majority of celebrities participate in activism with good and honest intentions. However, whether or not you agree with their message, celebrity activism ultimately does much more harm than good. Uninformed celebrities perpetuate damaging ideas and end up tainting their own message with duplicity.
Jennifer Hamilton is a local student and writer.
