The Hollywood Reporter dropped their cover story with Pharrell Williams last week, and it was obviously written before the presidential debate and Taylor Swift’s endorsement of the Harris-Walz ticket. I bring that up because Pharrell talks about politics – or rather, how celebrities shouldn’t talk about politics – and various outlets are positioning his comments like he was talking about Taylor. He was not, he was just speaking generally, and that’s sort of more offensive to me. Pharrell covered THR because he’s hyping his Lego movie – it’s sort of a reimagined bio-pic for Pharrell, told through Legos. He spoke to THR about the movie, politics, Britney Spears and how his career completely changed at the age of 40:
The year of three #1s, Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and “Happy”: “When I was 40 and I had three No. 1 records in a year, all of them were commissions. With ‘Get Lucky,’ the Robots [aka Daft Punk] asked me to write a song. I’m thinking I’m writing a song for somebody else to sing, and if I would’ve written it for me, it probably wouldn’t have been as big, because I would’ve written for my ego. When that sh-t blew up, I was like, ‘Whoa! OK, hold on.’ And that humbled me.”
He got fired from McDonald’s three times: “I did. From three different McDonald’s. It would’ve been even funnier if I got fired from the same one, but it was just as bad at the time, and that’s because I was lazy. And that’s the other thing I wanted people to get from this story, too. I was lazy, but I was lazy for a reason, because I wasn’t inspired. But when I got inspired, I’m now a workaholic, man.
On the Grammys refusing to give Black artists the biggest awards: “They’ve definitely got a lot to work on, because they’re a big organization, and they try to be too many things to all people, that’s where a lot of nuanced things get skipped over and fall between the cracks, and that’s a problem. But they know what their issues are, and they’re working on them. There are some good people in position now.
On the presidential election: “I am much more of a federal employee. I believe in merited civil service…Well, there are federal employees appointed by the president, right? You come in because you are loyal to a party or your leader. Then there are federal employees, this is what they do, come rain or shine, whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican in office, you show up to work every day, you serve your country. I’m more of a humanitarian. I like people trying to help people. Not sure I’ll ever vote far right. (Laughs.) I won’t do that.”
He doesn’t do politics: “But I don’t really do politics. Some policies I lean into; I think education is important. We have a nonprofit called YELLOW [whose mission is equity through education], and then there’s another 501(c)(3) that helps Black and Brown entrepreneurs called Black Ambition — those are the things I lean into. I’m not an activist, but I believe in action. But I do believe in activists, and you need everybody.
Political celebrities: “I don’t do politics. In fact, I get annoyed sometimes when I see celebrities trying to tell you [who to vote for]. There are celebrities that I respect that have an opinion, but not all of them. I’m one of them people [who says], “What the heck? Shut up. Nobody asked you.” When people get out there and get self-righteous and they roll up their sleeves and sh-t, and they are out there walking around with a placard: “Shut up!” So, no, I would rather stay out of the way, and obviously, I’m going to vote how I’m going to vote. I care about my people and I care about the country, but I feel there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and I’m really about the action.
What he says about celebrities and politics… he’s of a generation where people did look down on celebrities getting involved in politics, where it was a constant attack line on Democrats, that we’re “Hollywood liberals,” etc. Not to excuse Pharrell, because what he says here is stupid, but I understand where his reticence about celebrity endorsements is coming from. Now, I can’t f–king imagine being a Black man in America and proudly declaring “I don’t do politics.” Tough sh-t, man. Politics is doing YOU. Politics is harming your communities. Politics is harming your wife and your family. What f–king privilege.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, cover courtesy of THR.
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- The Prelude to The Paris Games 2024 at the Vuitton Foundation. Featuring: Pharrell Williams Where: Paris, France When: 25 Jul 2024 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Arrivlas at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Featuring: Pharrell Williams Where: Paris, France When: 26 Jul 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Not doing politics when your country is at serious risk is lazy, Pharrell.
Maybe he’s being deliberately coded? He says he doesn’t do politics and then lists actual things project 47 plans to attack. He’s paying close attention.
Totally. Only he likely does not realize that not everyone is aware and he could make his fans aware of what his engagement represents. I am sure there are people who care about education or black entrepreneurs and still vote Trump, beause they are not understanding what is going on and need it spelled out. He has been living in a bubble which is understandable. He hangs out with privileged people, he’s not discussing political initiatives with his dry cleaner. I have always been a fan and I am sad that he is designing 850k $ Vuitton bags but doesn’t use his clout to spell out what he stands for.
Interesting considering he was part of the “Vote or Die” campaign back in the day. The picture of him in that t shirt is making the rounds. I wonder what changed?? Oh yeah, he’s got more zeros in his bank account now. As a BW this does not surprise me. A lot of these rich black men are voting based on their tax bracket. They believe their money will insulate. He is showing how far removed he is.
When people say, “I don’t do politics,” or “Let’s not talk about politics,” it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the function of politics and government. Politics is health care, education, community cohesiveness, the cost of goods, the safety of your food, animal welfare… it impacts pretty much every facet of your life.
It’s okay to say, “I’m not knowledgeable enough about _____ issue or candidate,” but everyone *does* politics.
To your point, I can’t believe any grown person (from any walk of life) would say what Pharell said after the Covid pandemic made so clear to us how the handling of a health issue became “political” or was handled politically and affected all our jobs, how we shopped for food, and all our health. It’s just such a short-sighted position from someone who really seems to think that his wealth will insulate him from all ills.
People of his ilk make me sick.
“Now, I can’t f–king imagine being a Black man in America and proudly declaring “I don’t do politics.” Tough sh-t, man. Politics is doing YOU.”……………………….brilliant line!
I don’t do politics but I do write r@pe-adjacent songs. Entitled POS.
I no longer talk money, politics or religion. I stick to easy chat i.e. weather, how’ve you been, etc.
In the last 5-8 years people are powder kegs, so I support and donate in private.
Really? Because in 2016 he was out in these political streets talking about Stronger Together. He probably doesn’t want to back a Black woman. That man cried when Dr. Gates told him that he was the descendant of the enslaved. Don’t tell me he doesn’t have a problem with Blackness and being an absolute coward.
It takes deep fiscal and personal privilege to not care.
As a queer, disabled non-Christian, I can’t afford to not care.
He’s not very deep.
That’s my takeaway as well
It seems like he’s trying to walk the line and stay neutral but I’m getting blue vibes. With the way this country could go if the far right wins , he should be ashamed for staying “neutral “ and not using his platform. TONS of school aged children look up to him.
He has a certain point about loud, obnoxious political celebrities (look at Susan Sarandon) but he also needs to talk with a PR team or someone who can tell him “If you don’t want to talk about politics, just shut the fuck up about that and talk about what you DO – the non profits and the action.” Or focus on being humble about it and say “I’m voting and I would never presume to tell others who to vote for. Look at your life. Look at the ticket. Vote accordingly.”
But it’s never really the time to say “I don’t do politics.” Especially when he listed several things he does that are absolutely political and extra especially with everything that has been going on in the nation.
That was a fumble. (Or it was an intentional misdirect and he was being used – which is a whole conversation going on about attempts to distract and misdirect Black folks (from voting Dem or voting at all) using current and past comments from Black celebrities).
Karen Hunter has made some excellent points around that.
It’s one thing to privately feel this way but to say it out loud is sabotaging the work of so many people who are trying to turn the tide. At least he said he is going to vote. But he should have said nothing. He is modelling complacency
The phrase that was drilled into me in college was, “The personal is political.” Politics isn’t “out there,” it happens TO US. In a democracy it should also happen FROM US and WITH US. I agree, his privilege is showing And so is his lack of empathy for everyone who lacks that privilege.
He is talking bull🐃 💩. So, you were lazy & got fired from McD because the job didn’t inspired you; and now if a president asks he do something, he’ll do it? Even if the job is uninspired? Rotten? Harming other human beings?
More likely he is all about money & image now that he’s the CD of LV. Does he even care about his fellow Black American Women? I guess he is/was treated well in France? 🙄
P.S. Virgil Abloh >>>>>> Pharrell Williams
I used to love N.E.R.D. and Pharrell, but nope, not anymore, not after this. In 2018, Pharrell joined and performed at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) fundraiser, helping to raise $60 million. Gave a speech as well. I guess he can be political as long as it is outside of U.S. interests.
Off topic: Blurred Lines is an awful song accompanied by an equally awful video.
What a load of privilege.
Because he can say “I don’t do politics” but it’s very clear in this election that one of the candidates in this race sure wants to unleash a whole lotta politics onto people who look like Pharrell.
I was prepared to eyeroll at him, but reading what he says, it sounds like he does have personal beliefs and things he’s involved with, he just isn’t willing to talk about it publicly. I’m ok with that. I don’t think everyone needs to be a political mouthpiece, but everyone needs to be involved and vote.
First, I strongly echo what Kaiser wrote about the chutzpah of a Black man in America saying that he “doesn’t do” politics. Sure, he doesn’t. I won’t go on about that because I think Kaiser said it rather well above. What I wanted to say was that by making that statement, Pharrell WAS in fact the thing he claims he dislikes, which is a “celebrity making a political statement.” It’s one thing to decide not to vote and not to get involved with what’s going on all around you, but to make a public statement about that position, and decrying those famous people who are involved, and those who proudly say, “I will not vote for the bully and the guy with eyeliner who is weirdly obsessed with women’s reproductive systems” I believe that is a political statement he’s making, and by doing so, he’s also encouraging like-minded people like him to feel good about not getting involved. That’s inherently political, like saying “I really don’t care, do you?”
Imagine holding that kind of energy when a community in Springfield, OH is getting terrorized by bomb threats because of lies from one of the candidates for high office, or in light of the wars going on in the world, or when elected officials are trying to prevent people who like him from voting. Lastly, I also think Pharrell’s statement is like when Fox News berated football players for expressing their opinions about police brutality. To berate an actor or singer from expressing themselves politically is like berating a farmer or waitress from expressing themselves. They’ve all got the same rights to express themselves, the level of fame doesn’t change that under any law I’m aware of.
What exactly does he mean that he “doesn’t do politics?” At the very least, it sounds arrogant, and although he states clearly he is going do his duty and vote, he is not seeing that causes he supports are political.
Ugh. Exactly Kaiser. Politics is doing you. Dude, sit your happy ass down.
Blurred lines is a rapist anthem. Horrible song.
“Doesn’t do politics” and yet he performed for the IDF a few years ago. F this guy.
Pharell who only cares about his ego and “legacy”.
Pharell who tried to copyright The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. behind his childhood best friend and collaborator Chad Hugo’s back so he can get all the money and not have to share with Chad.
Pharell who doesn’t really have the chops to create good songs without Chad.
F this asshole. He only cares about one thing – himself.
I wish a certain reality show celebrity had never talked politics come to think about it.
No political opinion, but that doesn’t stop him in being active and collecting money for IDF?
Gross