When I was a lot younger, I would watch the Democratic National Conventions and I would enjoy the celebrity appearances, even if I also thought that the Dems should probably avoid looking so cozy with Hollywood. I’ve been a Dem all my voting life and I still sometimes wince when Democratic officials are so cozy with celebrities. There has been a subtle change over recent years though – celebrity endorsers who use their fame to drive conversations about particular issues or identity politics. It’s important that Eva Longoria was part of the DNC because of the Latinx vote. It’s important that Billie Eilish was part of the DNC because of the first-time youth voters. Billie is only 18 years old. This will be her first time voting in a national election. This will be the first time thousands of 18 year olds and 19 year olds vote in a national election. So Billie spoke, and performed.
She said:
“You don’t need me to tell you things are a mess. Donald Trump is destroying our country and everything we care about. We need leaders who will solve our problems like climate change and COVID, not deny them. Leaders who will fight against systemic racism and inequality. That starts by voting for someone who understands how much is at stake. Someone who is building a team that shares our values. It starts with voting against Donald Trump and for Joe Biden. Silence is not an option and we cannot afford to sit this one out. We all have to vote like our lives and the world depend on it because they do. The only way to be certain of the future is to make it ourselves. Please register, please vote.”
Word. I love that she did that. The song is new too, it’s called “My Future.”
Mariska Hargitay also made a speech – she’s been involved with the rape kit backlog for years now, and she used her time to speak about that. This was really good and it goes to one of the best parts of Biden’s record in Congress.
Photos courtesy of Getty, screencaps.
If you look at IG, every celebrity that speaks out against Trump “celebrities need to stay out of politics I dont follow them for their stupid opinions” those who support him “yeahhh TRUMP2020” what in the actual F. How are people this insane!
LMAO these same people think Kid Rock is amazing because he’s MAGA.
The national conventions have always seemed like a crazy circus to me so I never watched them. Now with the virus, I’ve watched clips and I’m excited about what I’m seeing. The DNC has been an uplifting experience for me this year.
I give all artists, especially young ones credit for speaking up. It takes a lot of courage to stick your neck out and face career limiting consequences (Dixie chicks anyone)…
Anyhoo if you support the right to speak your mind – VOTE! Cause the Republicans are messing with democracy.
I also think it helps to show that politics is for everyone. Voting is for everyone. My vote counts the same as Billie’s vote and hers counts the same as Michelle Obama’s vote. I thought about that other day: Michelle Obama has exactly the same say in this election that I do. My vote is exactly as important as hers, and while I’ve always known that abstractly, it was a wow moment to actually think about the implications of it.
We are ALL equally important when it comes to voting. No one is more important/more deserving/less deserving to speak about voting. I think one of the problems with American politics and why we have such horrific voter turnout is that we have this idea that only politicians need to care/talk about/be involved with politics. Like voting is some kind of work-related task that comes with being a politician, and that’s why they do it/need to do it. And the other non-politicians who vote must do it because they’re super interested in and knowledgeable about politics and things like voting, protesting, and signing petitions are all just the hobbies that go along with following politics very closely.
As if politics are just another random hobby like watching sports. As if voting on Election Day is like attending the Super Bowl: definitely not mandatory or even recommended for everyone, but a fun thing for the people who are super interested/invested in politics/football to get to do, if they want to and can make it work that year. I think too many people view voting like that. Instead of it being their civic duty as citizens, they see it as something that only certain people who are involved in politics do because they have to or because it’s a fun expression of their political hobby.
It really does take bravery to stand up for something you believe in. These young people inspire me… I feel some David Bowie lyrics coming on!
I also will side eye some celebrities but I do like that it absolutely gets under Trump’s skin. And Republicans. They haaaaaate that they’re the ones being made fun of by the ‘cool kids’ and it’s never endingly hilarious.
Absolutely. So obvious. They’re so easily riled up.
This is so important, she has a massive following. If she and Finneas can drive them to vote it could make a huge difference.
She has almost 66 million followers on Instagram alone.
I was going to ask if she is really that popular among the youth of today. I’m an 40 something with no kids so I have no idea if the “kids these days” are following her or not. It seemed like she blew up and all of us olds were talking about her, I don’t know if that made her following not like her anymore.
Oh, I feel so out of touch writing that 🙂
@Kkat – Wow, that is a huge number of followers! I do admire Billie for speaking up. Even if she influences only a few hundred people we should be grateful. I was prepared to find her song underwhelming, but that was not the case. I liked it, and I’m an old lady.
The whole DNC has been mentally and emotionally uplifting for us. I feel that both the Obama’s speeches have been so eloquent, flowed so well, and put out messages that cannot be ignored, they literally brought my husband and I to tears. I do not understand how any human being living in the US who possesses an ounce of civility could not be moved to open their heart to this light. Kamala’s acceptance speech highlighted some hard truths, was all-inclusive, and had a very sweet intro. Now I’m going back to finish Michelle Obama’s book that is due in three days… thoroughly entranced by it.
I’m a survivor and Mariska Hargitay‘s ongoing commitment to ending the backlog means the world to me.
I realise Trump is far worse but I hope Biden works on respecting the physical boundaries of womxn. Biden is obviously a better choice then Trump. I just hope we can eventually create a more inclusive world. So we have better choices then two white cis dudes that have problematic attitudes towards womxn.
(I’m an Australian. We have a Prime Minister that advocates for Hillsong and is thus complicit in conversion therapy. Every election I just vote for the slightly less awful man. So I realise entrenched sexism isn’t specific to the US).
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Yay, Billie, but really I wouldn’t expect anything less from her. She reminds me of the white girls of the hiphop era, so cool but always kind and on point. Love her baggy style and even when she speaks she doesn’t sound fake or put on at all, I can see why our teen girls gravitate towards her, and why the DNC picked her, she’s the change. Vote Biden-Harris 2020!!