From Beyoncé to Schwarzenegger: Celebrities rally behind Kamala Harris amid polarization

The United States is deeply divided, with stark political distances translating into real-world separations. Friendships across party lines are rare. And only 8% of marriages are between supporters of the two major parties. A Pew Research Center study from two years ago revealed that Republicans and Democrats have different life priorities: the news they watch and their lifestyles reflect this high degree of polarization. The one area where all Americans converge is culture and sports, which is why celebrity endorsements during this lengthy electoral campaign have been so significant. In this regard, regardless of the outcome after November 5, there is a clear winner: Kamala Harris.

Celebrity support has predominantly rallied behind the Democratic candidate. Since late July, when Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Harris has attracted a multitude of powerful figures from the realms of music, film, and television. At the Democratic convention that nominated her in August, she was endorsed by stars such as Eva Longoria, musicians like Pink and Stevie Wonder, and the influential media personality Oprah Winfrey.

Actress Kerry Washington, alongside her Scandal co-star Tony Goldwyn — who portrayed the president in the hit series — introduced Harris at the convention. In a recent conversation with EL PAÍS, Washington, a fervent advocate for Harris, described her role as a privilege, saying that presenting at the convention was “exciting.” She described her involvement in the campaign as a “selfish act” that connected her to the real world. “Action and activism are really good antidepressants,” half joking, half seriously. “I don’t speak up because I think actors have all the answers to all of our greatest social problems, that’s not the case. But as an American, I think each of us has a responsibility to participate in the process, because that’s what democracy is.”

“We’ve seen overlaps between celebrity and politics for quite some time,” explains Professor Mat McAllister, a communications specialist at Pennsylvania State University. “Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Al Franken are all examples of public figures who started as entertainment celebrities and went on to political positions and careers. And in the past celebrities have campaigned for politicians (John Wayne endorsed Nixon in a Life magazine ad in 1960, for example). But it does seem like overlap between celebrity and politics have increased over the last few years. Trump was a TV celebrity on a reality tv show before being president. Social media make it even easier for celebrities to express their opinion to their fans on all sorts of topics, and on a daily or even hourly basis. Reporters and fans also often ask celebrities about their opinions of high-profile and politically charged and/or socially relevant topics, like Black Lives Matter or reproductive rights. So it makes sense that these incentives extend to explicit endorsements of political candidates.”

As Washington explained, the ability of celebrities to serve as advocates for ideas, rather than as oracles with definitive solutions, has motivated many prominent figures in the entertainment industry to speak out. Two of the most significant celebrities to do so are Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, both of whom have played crucial roles in shaping 20th-century pop culture while also setting trends and making millions of dollars. They have supported Harris’ campaign in distinct yet equally impactful ways.

Swift publicly endorsed Harris on September 11, following the presidential debate, urging her fans to register to vote and to support Harris at the polls. This call to action resulted in thousands of new voter registrations, a critical step toward participation in the election.

Beyoncé had previously indicated her support by permitting Harris to use her song Freedom throughout the campaign. However, she saved her most emphatic endorsement for just 10 days before the election. On October 26, she appeared at a rally in Houston. “I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” she said. “A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.”

Traditionally, Democrats have won more support from celebrities, who often align with progressive ideals. This election cycle has been no exception, with Hollywood mobilizing from the outset to raise funds and increase visibility for Harris. High-profile figures such as George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Katy Perry, John Legend, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cardi B, and Lizzo have all contributed to the campaign. As the months have progressed, the momentum has only intensified, with countless stars including Cher, Eminem, Anne Hathaway, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Stiller, Michael Keaton, David Duchovny, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stephen King, Mandy Patinkin, Billie Eilish, Sally Field, Mariska Hargitay, Neil Young, and Octavia Spencer lending their support to Harris on social media and in public statements.

Even Mariah Carey, encouraged by the tireless Washington, waited a little longer to unfreeze her iconic Christmas hit All I Want for Christmas (Is You), which celebrates its 13th anniversary this year, to emphasize the importance of voting.

Some have taken real action as well. Bruce Springsteen performed three songs at a Harris rally in Atlanta, Georgia, in late October. “I want a president who reveres the Constitution, who wants to protect and guide our great democracy,” he said at the time.

Singer-songwriter Carole King joined the Swifties for Kamala campaign, which encouraged people to vote for Harris-Walz and to donate through phone calls and home visits. The event raised over $122,000.

Director and screenwriter J. J. Abrams, along with actors Mark Hamill, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sean Astin, Jeff Bridges, and Will Ferrell, are part of the political and humorous initiative White Dudes for Harris.

Others have launched their own campaigns and platforms, such as actress Rosario Dawson, a promoter of the Voto Latino Foundation, which runs Vota con Ganas — a platform with $5 million in funding that features celebrities like America Ferrera encouraging people to register and vote. Another initiative is Vote Like a Madre, founded by Jessica Alba, where Latina women, whether mothers or not, motivate individuals to vote with future generations in mind. This initiative has included prominent figures like Rita Moreno, Gina Torres, Eva Longoria, and Camila Cabello.

Mike Tyson and Hulk Hogan, with Trump

Republicans, on the other hand, have had a harder time winning over celebrities. Endorsements for Trump are neither as numerous nor as influential. In addition to astronaut Buzz Aldrin, notable endorsements come from wrestlers Mike Tyson and Hulk Hogan, as well as actors such as Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Quaid, Roseanne Barr, and Russell Brand.

Rappers Kid Rock and Azealia Banks have also shown support for Donald Trump. Musician 50 Cent, who previously posted and then deleted a comment suggesting “maybe Trump is the answer” and later shared a video expressing his belief that Trump would become president again — though he did not explicitly endorse him — said that the Republican team invited him to perform at Trump’s major rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27. He declined the offer: I didn’t talk to them about that kinda stuff. I’m afraid about politics. I do not like no part about them. No gangbanging and no politics!”

According to the AceOdds betting calculator and data analyzed by Google, citizens conduct millions of searches regarding celebrity endorsements for the candidates: approximately 1.39 billion queries about which celebrities support Harris and around 389 million for those backing Trump. Among Democrats, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé generate the most interest, followed by LeBron James. For Republicans, the spotlight primarily shines on magnate Elon Musk and Mike Tyson. As Professor McAllister notes, there is significant public interest: “Celebrities have their own fan bases that can become news users, and even non-fans may be curious about them.

The rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday proved to be a significant setback for Trump, resulting in a loss of support from several celebrities. When comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” — despite it being a U.S. territory where residents can vote in primaries but not for president unless they are outside the island — many turned their backs on him. Prominent figures like Bad Bunny, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez, who attended a rally with Harris on October 31, voiced their disapproval.

Even some of Trump’s previous supporters distanced themselves. Rappers Anuel AA, Justin Quiles, and Nicky Jam had backed him at a rally in Pennsylvania in August, but Nicky Jam retracted his support following Hinchcliffe’s comments. “The reason why I supported Donald Trump is because I thought he’d be the best option for the U.S. economy where so many Latinos live, including me,” he shared in a video on Instagram. “I never in my life thought a month later a comedian would criticize my country and speak poorly of my country so for that reason, I renounce any support of Donald Trump [...] Puerto Rico deserves respect.”

Trump’s popularity has waned so much that even within the Republican Party, he faces backlash. Barbara P. Bush, daughter of former president George W. Bush, has announced her support for Kamala Harris, joining former Republican politicians like Liz Cheney and Mike Pence in their opposition to Trump. Even one of the most well-known Republicans, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said that he would not be voting for Trump, explaining that he will “always be an American before a Republican.”

“It will just be four more years of bullshit with no results that makes us angrier and angrier, more divided, and more hateful. We need to close the door on this chapter of American history, and I know that former President Trump won’t do that,” he said in a post on X.

Celebrities can say it louder, but not any clearer.

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