APU students sound off on celebrities voicing political opinions
With all the political turmoil in the news lately, it has become the popular trend to voice an opinion about the major issues in our country—whether that be bashing President Trump or calling for stricter gun control. Celebrities from all genres and platforms are joining in, and the Oscars were no exception. The night that is usually dedicated to celebrating greatness in the movie industry turned political in a hurry.
We all know that celebrities have their own political opinions, but do people actually take what they say more seriously than political figures or journalists? Maybe more importantly, should they?
We took to Cougar Walk to find out.
“Personally, I don’t pay that much attention to them,” said Sam Echelbarger, a sophomore business management major. “They have that right, so I agree that they can say whatever they want to say, but I don’t really put any more value on their opinion than anyone else’s.”
Echelbarger was not the only person to share this view; almost everyone we spoke to agreed with this sentiment.
“I think celebrities are people, so they have every right that other people have, so I have the same rights as a celebrity. Now they have a little more push in some things, the things they say have more influence because of their recognition, but I think, specifically in politics, celebrities need to recognize that their say has more influence than someone else’s,” said senior business marketing major Nathan Hagler.
“I think they have the right to say that, but they need to be careful with the things they say, obviously with the press, because a lot of things get taken out of context, so I think they need to recognize that. But ultimately, they have every right to do that, so I think they can use that platform and express their opinion and express what they think. Ultimately, I think every human being has the right to do that, and I think people need to be able to listen to what someone else has to say and come up with their own opinion.”
Everyone we had questioned agreed that celebrities have the right to voice their opinions on political issues, but should they be more aware of the platform they are using? For example, should celebrities take the stage at the Oscars, a night that was not intended for political discourse, and begin spouting their political opinions left and right?
Sophomore business management major Eric Shriver says no.
“I think that would be inappropriate. So, if something is for a celebration and people are having a good time, and it is for a different purpose, you are there for that purpose. If you are at someone else’s shindig and you’re invited, don’t make it about you. If you are going to do that and you have an issue, I would ask about it first, before you just get up and steal the mic and make it your own program,” Shriver said.
“It should be this thing where everyone gets their time to shine, and the purpose is for awarding people and recognizing the great things they did on film or in sports or whatever, and if you did want to say something a little different, or something that is on your heart or in your mind, or something you have a strong opinion about, that may not be the best place for it, at someone else’s shindig. But, if you do have to do that, I would ask about it first.”
Hagler summed it up best when he noted that while celebrity opinions have more reach than some, they should not have more weight.
“In my personal opinion, I don’t think that we should put any more weight on celebrities’ opinions. I think their opinions are more heard, but I don’t think they should have more weight,” Hagler said. “For me personally, I am totally willing to hear what they have to say and hear their opinion, but I need to come to my own personal conclusion because I recognize that I am also a person and I have my own opinions and I have just as many rights as any celebrity should.”