Pop star Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election has sparked debate about the influence of celebrities on politics. A recent YouGov survey found that many Americans, especially Republicans, believe that celebrities should stay out of political discussions. Only 11% say a celebrity has ever changed their views on a political issue, and 7% have supported a candidate because of a celebrity endorsement.
Interestingly, more Americans think that celebrity involvement in politics actually harms American democracy rather than helps it. Despite this, Democrats and younger adults are more likely to view celebrity endorsements positively.
The survey also found that 51% of respondents say a celebrity’s political stance has caused them to have a negative opinion of the celebrity. Additionally, 32% believe that engaging in politics hurts a celebrity’s career, while only 10% think it helps.
Overall, the results of the survey suggest that while American’s are not heavily swayed by celebrity endorsements, they do have strong opinions about celebrities engaging in political discussions. This raises the question of whether celebrities should use their platform to advocate for political issues, especially in a highly polarized political climate.
The YouGov poll was conducted online from August 13-17, 2024, among 1,137 U.S. adult citizens. The survey results were weighted to ensure a representative sample of the U.S. population.
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Photo credit today.yougov.com