In today’s social media age, celebrities are seen not just as entertainers, but as public figures. Their opinions on major issues often draw attention, and sometimes choosing to remain silent can spark questions and backlash. Before social media existed, celebrities’ way of stating their opinions publicly was mainly through interviews. Currently, the culture of social media apps has led celebrities to now post daily while sharing their outfits, opinions and their everyday lives.
This way of communication with their fans creates a parasocial relationship, which is expressed when fans feel emotionally connected to a celebrity who doesn’t actually know them, according to Science Direct. As a result of this, fans’ expectations heighten and they begin to accept moral alignment. Some might feel betrayed if a celebrity disagrees with their opinion, while also feeling disappointed if they stay silent.
Furthermore, these expectations set on celebrities place them in a difficult position. For example, this January, Nicki Minaj publicly declared herself as a Trump supporter, saying she is his “number one fan.” This statement sparked widespread criticism, hate and debate across social media platforms with some fans describing it as her “fallout” and marking it a turning point in her public image. Reactions like this extend beyond social media, showing up in the way that students discuss public figures.
“I definitely find myself changing my perspective of a celebrity due to their opinion that they post online,” FHS sophomore Yuval Kopel said. “I find myself getting disappointed if they say something that I don’t agree with.”
Kopel’s response reflects on how personally young people are taking a celebrity’s opinion on different things they share online. This further emphasizes the parasocial relationship fans have with celebrities. Their opinions do not just mean different political views, but instead feel more like a personal betrayal.
Along with the backlash celebrities face for speaking out, choosing not to can also anger fans. In today’s social media culture, silence is often interpreted as a statement rather than neutrality.
“I’ve seen people comment or put posts out there saying, ‘how come this person hasn’t said anything,” FHS English teacher Aisha Lomando said. This emphasizes that fans often think that if a celebrity is not commenting on a major crisis on social media, it means that they either agree or disagree but are not willing to voice it out to the public. Because celebrities have control over large platforms that are capable of bringing niche issues to mainstream discussion, many believe that they have the responsibility to use their voice. Nevertheless, remaining silent does not always mean that a celebrity does not care. Some may hesitate to speak on issues that they feel uninformed about in order to avoid misinforming the public. Others may choose neutrality on topics they don’t necessarily “relate” to.
Finally, celebrities live under public scrutiny. Social media has turned fame into a form of responsibility, where every post and the absence of a post carries a weight that can spark discussion and controversy. As expectations continue to grow, celebrities are increasingly seen as activists, which raises the question whether public figures are ever going to return to being “just entertainers” in a culture that demands more.
