By: Yashita Dhillon, News Writer
Content warning: mentions of genocide.
The Met Gala has always been about flaunting outfits and prestige, but it felt more surface-level than usual this year. As attendees walked the red carpet, protesters gathered outside, trying to draw attention to the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
On the same day as the Met Gala, “Israel called on Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah amid increasing global alarm about the consequences of an Israeli ground invasion of the city.” The announcement was brushed under the carpet as celebrities paraded around in expensive attire, posing for photos and doing interviews. Some celebrities who attended the Met Gala, such as Zendaya and Dua Lipa, have notably supported Palestine in the past. Yet, at this year’s event, they were silent.
The Met Gala is one of many examples that reminds us why we shouldn’t look up to celebrities as much as we do. For example, influencer Haley Kalil was asked to interview Gala attendees, and posted a video of herself lip-syncing to a TikTok audio clip that included the phrase “let them eat cake.” This is commonly attributed to historic French Queen Marie Antoinette regarding starving peasants, although she likely didn’t say this. Regardless of intention, while Palestinians in occupied territory are starving, it goes to show how little self-awareness some celebrities have when it comes to their privilege.
In response to this, a “celebrity block-out” movement has circulated on social media. People have decided to block celebrities who have been silent about violence against Palestinians, especially its escalation after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The goal is to reduce their engagement and the revenue they earn from posts to demonstrate that if you don’t use your platform to call attention to urgent issues, you will lose support. While there isn’t an official block list, Palestinian journalists like Bisan Owda shared a list on their social media, which included Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and many more.
When celebrities choose silence over activism, they perpetuate the very systems of oppression that need dismantling.
It’s surreal to scroll through social media and see posts about people being killed and losing their homes, only to be followed by photos of celebrities flaunting designer gowns and suits. With all the attention given to these celebrity outfits and interviews, imagine how much awareness or money could be raised for Palestine if any of these figures spoke up. The price for a ticket to the Met Gala in 2024 was $75,000, and tables were at least $350,000. To think these people don’t have the power or resources to make a difference is fooling ourselves. Celebrities influence culture, and those with the most influence can determine the status quo.
Our cultural obsession with celebrities can be harmful. It distracts us from more pressing global issues and encourages a culture of escapism. We need to hold celebrities accountable for their actions and inactions. With the power we give them, it’s not unreasonable to expect them to use their influence for good. When people choose silence over activism, they perpetuate the very systems of oppression that need dismantling. Celebrities are who they are because of their audience’s support, so expecting them to speak up for the right cause — something their audience believes in — is not unreasonable at all.
The responsibility also lies with us — the public. We must stop treating celebrities as idols and start demanding more from them. Their wealth and influence come from our support, and it’s high time we expect them to use it responsibly. We should call out hypocritical behaviour and turn our support toward those who go beyond performative activism.
Some argue celebrities shouldn’t speak up about political issues because they aren’t educated and we should be looking to experts to speak on these topics. We need to stop using this as an excuse. It’s not difficult to stand against genocide — something the UN has already determined is taking place. It’s not that we’re looking to celebrities to provide in-depth analysis; we can turn to activists, scholars, and those with lived experience for that. It’s simply a matter of standing against human suffering, which everyone can do. Those who don’t use their platforms to mobilize such a huge population to care about an ongoing tragedy are making a conscious decision.
Social media ads are just one of the many ways celebrities earn money, and are often not their main revenue stream. The social media block-out movement is a great conscious effort that shows we’re starting somewhere. However, we also need to realize that the revenue earned from platforms like streaming services often supersedes the revenue from ads or social media. If we expect celebrities to put their money where their mouths are, maybe we should do the same.
