Celebrity political endorsements grab headlines – but maybe it is time to think about what benefit they actually bring

Considering the half-hearted response such endorsements have received recently, perhaps it’s time we stopped placing quite so much emphasis on their importance

Then Liberal Democrat candidate Luciana Berger and Hugh Grant canvassing during the election (PA)

One of the most striking things, at least for me, after the election results came in is how quiet British celebrities have been. Even before the polls opened, there was a few high-profile voices urging for people to vote, but not many – Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Hugh Grant and Lily Allen were among the most prominent.

Especially now, with the spread of fake news and confusion among voters over which sources are genuinely trustworthy, celebrities can serve as arbiters for public opinion. But when it comes to influencing the way we vote, there’s an element of expertise that’s required as well. Someone like Oprah supporting Barack Obama during the presidential race worked because she already had a reputation for championing a number of major social causes – ditto actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and Michael Sheen.

After Trump won the 2016 presidential election, there was a surge in the number of political protest songs being rolled out by everyone from Eminem to Bruce Springsteen. Before that, his rival Hillary Clinton had received support from the likes of Beyonce, Jay-Z and Katy Perry, but ultimately this didn’t help her win. Perhaps because, unlike Oprah, who has only supported one presidential candidate in her career, Beyonce and Jay-Z had already campaigned for Obama, causing fatigue or confusion among voters. Perry, meanwhile, had never really expressed interest in politics at all. Voters were likely wondering – maybe even suspicious – of why she was getting involved this time.

Research has shown that young adults are more likely to listen to family and friends than they are celebrities as a source of political information. Famous people might motivate them to take part, but not so much influence the way they actually vote. Celebrity endorsements are nothing new – they’ve been part of politics since the 1920s. But considering the half-hearted response they’ve received over the past few years, perhaps it’s time we stopped placing quite so much emphasis on their importance.

Yours,

Roisin O’Connor

Music correspondent