Most people do not pay attention when celebrities express political views, according to new polling by Ipsos for PA. The survey found that 60% of respondents have not paid attention to a celebrity expressing their views in support of a political cause.
Trust in celebrities on political matters remains minimal. Only 5% of those polled said they trust celebrities on political issues, with people more likely to trust family and friends or no-one at all when it comes to political views.
The polling was commissioned following a weekend that saw several bands withdraw from the Victorious music festival in Portsmouth after Irish folk group The Mary Wallopers claimed they were "cut off" for displaying a Palestinian flag. Festival organisers later apologised and pledged to make "a substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people".
Public opinion on celebrity activism
While most people ignore celebrity political statements, 55% believe it is acceptable for celebrities to raise awareness about political causes. Additionally, 57% find it acceptable for celebrities to encourage people to write to their MP about a political issue.
However, 52% said it was unacceptable for celebrities to encourage protest which might break the law, such as supporting a banned organisation. Just over a fifth (22%) felt this was acceptable.
When asked which groups they would be interested in hearing more from on political issues, only 8% chose celebrities. This ranked below the royal family (10%), politicians (13%) and academics (20%).
Celebrity political activism
Increasing numbers of artists have spoken out over the war in Gaza in recent times, including singer Madonna and rock band U2. Many performers use social media or the stage as their platform to express political views.
Award-winning author Sally Rooney, who wrote "Normal People", recently made headlines for pledging to donate earnings from her books and BBC adaptations to Palestine Action, a group recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The Irish author said that if backing Palestine Action "makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it".
Rooney, who currently lives in the west of Ireland, wrote in the Irish Times: "I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can." While Palestine Action was recently proscribed in the UK, it is not banned under Irish law.
The Ipsos polling surveyed 1,100 people aged 16 to 75 across England, Scotland and Wales between 22 and 25 August.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
