They move crowds across the world. But the support of Beyoncé or even Taylor Swift will not have allowed Kamala Harris to beat Donald Trump, once again elected President of the United States. A Democratic tradition, this avalanche of stars shows its limits.
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Donald Trump had to do without the seduction of Hollywood. But by appearing with athletes and other masculinist influencers, he hit the mark with a certain electorate. Neither George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez or Lady Gaga, all on Kamala Harris’ side, made the cut.
“Not for this election, that’s clear!” notes Laurence Maslon, professor of art at New York University. “People probably realize that Beyoncé and George Clooney don’t have to worry about the price of gas or eggs,” he told AFP.
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In the United States, more than in most other countries, the mix between stars and political figures has been well-established since the days of Frank Sinatra bringing together his Rat Pack group to support John F. Kennedy in 1960.
This year, Hollywood fundraisers raised tens of millions of dollars to finance Kamala Harris’ record-breaking campaign.
But this strategy “will never be the sesame that everyone is waiting for,” notes to AFP Margaretha Bentley, professor at Arizona State University, who notably teaches a public affairs course devoted to Taylor Swift.
For the researcher, the Democrats’ failure should lead them to “a deep self-analysis” to question “what could have been more successful”, including with regard to celebrity support.
Author of a book on the political involvement of stars, Mark Harvey also believes that no one “should be hugely surprised”.
“The idea that celebrities can influence people in their vote for candidates is not really supported by scientific data,” he reminds AFP.
According to him, their impact is limited to areas in which these stars have real experience or expertise.
What if politics was more of a ring than a concert stage?
As a champion, Donald Trump surrounds himself with big names from the world of sport, like the evening of his victory, with UFC boss Dana White, a “tough” man and a “hell number” according to him.
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As for golfer Bryson DeChambeau, he describes him as “fantastic” and even as hitting the ball “slightly further” than him, Donald Trump being a fan of this sport with his own club in Florida.
And amid the applause of the public, much praise was devoted to its richest supporter, billionaire Elon Musk.
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Donald Trump also received the support of Joe Rogan, influential host of one of the most popular podcasts in the world, particularly among young men.
In an election “largely dominated by cultural issues, one of the most powerful was that of masculinity,” points out Mark Harvey.
“This idea of being ‘a real guy,’ the ‘macho’ Trump, that’s the kind of thing that Joe Rogan plays with all the time,” he adds.
But “the value and impact of support for candidates by celebrities” is indeed the subject of “debate”, told AFP Ashley Spillane, head of a consulting firm specializing in particular on the influence of stars on society.
According to her, there is “strong evidence that celebrities have a real impact on promoting non-partisan civic engagement more generally”, such as Taylor Swift’s call to vote which led 400,000 people to turn out on a voter registration site.
Despite the defeat of Kamala Harris, Hollywood has not remained silent, like Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis or actor John Cusack who already denounces Donald Trump as a “fascist with absolute power”.
Rapper Cardi B even shared a bitter Instagram story: “I hate you all so much.”
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