Olivia Rodrigo is often overlooked for her efforts in using her platform for activism. As a woman of color, singer-songwriter, with 14 Grammy nominations and three wins at just 22 years old, Rodrigo is showing off her moxie at this point in her career.
Last week, she responded to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House for using one of her songs to denounce ICE and promote self-deportation in a video on Instagram. In a collaborative post between DHS and the White House, her song, “all american bitch” was used over the video. In an Instagram comment under the post, Rodrigo said, “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
This isn’t the first time Rodrigo has been vocal about political videos using her songs. After standing up for what she believes in, I feel she is overlooked as an activist.
In 2024, during Rodrigo’s “Guts” tour, she launched Fund 4 Good, an initiative aiding all women, girls and people seeking reproductive health freedom. A portion of ticket sales in North America went toward the National Network of Abortion Funds, which helps people seek access to abortion. Many fans praised Rodrigo for this initiative, regardless of the political climate following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Fund 4 Good and Rodrigo teamed up with many different organizations over the course of her tour to give out contraceptives and other sexual health resources at her shows. Unfortunately, due to backlash about young concert goers attending, Rodrigo, her team and the National Network of Abortion Funds quit handing out these resources. Despite this, she received the Catalyst of Change award from Planned Parenthood, which recognizes her efforts in reproductive rights activism.
In an interview with Billboard, Rodrigo said, “Being on tour (so soon) after Roe v. Wade got overturned made activism very important … I wanted to do everything I could to support organizations in each territory that are doing essential work in providing access to health care and other human rights.”
Rodrigo is no stranger to activism, from her Fund 4 Good initiative, to singing a song with Lily Allen dedicated to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to endorsing former presidential candidate Kamala Harris and now sharing she is against Trump’s administration.
As Rodrigo makes her stand, other artists seem to lack in this area. It may be from fear of public discrimination or cancel culture keeping personal opinions away from being an object for entertainment, or it could be something much deeper. Music has always been used as a way of protest or activism for artists, as it’s a form of expression.
Again in 2024, Rodrigo removed her song “deja vu” from a TikTok video posted by President Donald Trump without her permission and commented, telling him to not use her songs again. Trump faced backlash from other musicians for using their songs without permission.
Some musicians, however, are shamed for their lack of activism. If sharing beliefs with an artist is important, we should rally and support those who use their platform as a representative for our own activism. Musicians such as Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish have used their platforms to promote activism in the past, and like Rodrigo, musicians should maintain consistency and use their platforms for ongoing issues.
Rodrigo is a profound role model for young women, standing up for women’s health and LGBTQIA+ rights and speaking out against racism. Rodrigo has remained consistent in her activism and has used her platform for good.
Activism through music is very important. Many young people are listening to lyrics and looking up to musicians like Rodrigo, and seeing her be active in change will inspire youth to create change in the world. We all have a platform as citizens through voting and protesting. Oh well, our favorite musicians should also reflect that.
Cassidy McClurg is a freshman student studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassidy about their column? Email cm303824@ohio.edu
