Entertainment media is often considered soft news in comparison to hard-hitting news stories, but there is something to be said about entertainment’s place in politics. With celebrities and influencers using their platforms to share political opinions, people are beginning to be influenced through entertainment media.
Throughout history, political references have been sprinkled throughout television shows, movies and music. Even modern influencers have taken over, sharing opinions through their large platforms. The U.S. is in a time of political unrest, and with each new headline people grow weary of the political climate.
Music artists have long been including political undertones in songs, and they are becoming less and less afraid to include these opinions in their songs now.
On Oct. 3, country singer Zach Bryan posted a snippet of an unreleased song titled “Bad News” with the caption reading, “The fading of the red, white and blue.” One lyric in the snippet caused a lot of controversy among listeners.
“And ICE is gonna come bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / But I got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone,” Bryan said in the song snippet.
People quickly took to social media to both criticize and praise the country singer.
“Country fans are mad at Zach Bryan for dissing ICE in his song snippet,” one X user wrote. “Don’t let them find out that Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash all hated fascists and were very left-leaning.”
After receiving backlash, Zach Bryan released a statement on his Instagram story, sharing his love for his country while explaining the U.S. needs to be unified.
“When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle," Bryan wrote. "Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back."
While some are choosing to include political anecdotes in their songs, others are using their concerts to advocate for specific political opinions. One example of this is Reneé Rapp advocating for the nonprofit Save the Children in a video that shows before the start of her current “Bite Me Tour.”
“Right now, millions of children around the world are in crisis,” Rapp said. “Children in Gaza, children in Congo, children in Sudan, children everywhere. War, hunger, genocide, natural disasters and poverty. During this tour, I’ve partnered with Save the Children to ensure that these vulnerable kids get all the support and help that we can give them.”
Rapp encourages fans to donate through QR codes posted around her tour venues and donates alongside them. She also has specific merchandise that supports the nonprofit, donating part of the proceeds to Save the Children.
If one thing is for sure, when someone's favorite artist, influencer or actor speaks on an issue, people are sure to pay attention. It is increasingly important for celebrities and influencers to continue to share political opinions online.
Rather than tune into broadcast channels, Gen Z scrolls through social media sites to consume their news. As of this year, 53% of adults get their news through social media, a rising statistic as people continue to partake in apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Celebrities and influencers hold immense power over the political opinions of people, especially among Gen Z, one of the most online generations. This generation continues to prove the point that when celebrities talk, people listen.
As the election season comes closer, people will begin to pay attention to social media for what issues will be on the ballot rather than looking it up on a search engine. They will want to know, “How are my favorite celebrities voting?” Even just posting about these issues gets people to the polls and voting.
During the 2024 presidential election, celebrities such as Charli XCX and Kid Rock endorsed presidential candidates, which affected voting. 19% of young voters said a celebrity’s endorsement of a candidate may sway their vote.
Raising awareness about controversial topics naturally gets people talking, which is why this pattern must continue. Entertainment truly has the power to sway people’s political opinions.
Sophia Anness is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Sophia about her column? Email/tweet them at sa425522@ohio.edu /@AnnessSoph0415.
