What Beyoncé’s Political Activism Means for Celebrity Culture

Beyoncé Expected to Join Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris at a campaign rally Friday in Houston focused on abortion rights. The Washington Post reported this.. All of Harris’ cross-country rallies had one thing in common: Beyoncé music.

For more than two decades, Beyoncé’s music has made important contributions to social causes, creating anthems for marches and celebrations. Now she appears to be channeling her brand’s influence into supporting a multifaceted campaign aimed at changing the political status quo. Beyoncé’s teaming up with Harris is a noteworthy moment in the larger dialogue about celebrity influence in politics because she not only brings her star power, but also engages her fans, the Beyhive, who have proven to be the superstar’s core supporters.

Harris’ campaign used songs like “My Power” from Present albums “Love On Top” and “Freedom” to keep the audience interested during her cross-country rally. During her first appearance as a presidential candidate in July, Harris went to Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The following month, Beyoncé’s team threatened to call off Trump’s campaign after the former president posted an unauthorized “Freedom” clip on his social media account.

Back in the mid-2000s, Beyoncé’s music, and thus the brand, was an integral part of the pop cultural zeitgeist. Songs like “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and “Run the World (Girls)” continue the conversation about female empowerment and agency, serving as anthems for a generation that is quickly embracing modern feminism and a culture of restoring autonomy. . The songs became pop culture classics that defined another era of the singer’s superstardom, one when she didn’t cross political boundaries or ruffle feathers.

Beyoncé’s embrace of political commentary began with her Super Bowl 50 halftime performance in 2016, where she performed “Formation” live. The production, complete with Black Panther-style costumes and choreography, was a departure from her earlier work, which did not have an overt political message. Her sixth album, Lemonadereleased two months later, cemented this shift. While the 12-track project was inspired in part by personal issues—mainly infidelity and black womanhood—it also included strong political overtones that listeners couldn’t ignore. Songs like “Forward” featured cameos from the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Michael Brown, young black men whose deaths inspired the Black Lives Matter movement. The album’s visuals and lyrics confront not only racial injustice, but also the resilience and pain of black womanhood—topics that Beyoncé had not explored as boldly in previous years. The album sparked controversy among conservative groups, with some critics arguing that the “Freedom” singer was promoting a harmful anti-police and anti-American agenda.

At the height of the controversy, Piers Morgan noted in an opinion piece for The Guardian that he “prefers the old Beyoncé. Less exciting and exciting.

Later that year, the “Irreplaceable” singer would join her husband Jay-Z in Ohio to headline a concert supporting Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run. Even her foray into the country music space sparked political controversy, some of which stemmed from the controversy surrounding Lemonade.

Harris’ campaign used Beyoncé’s music as its soundtrack. In this collaboration, two influential women of color combine their political and artistic acumen for the most important presidential race.

Hollywood and politics have found common ground for more than a century, with many stars supporting their political candidates and encouraging their fans to do the same. During the 1944 presidential campaign, Frank Sinatra joined presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt on the campaign trail. Sinatra also supported John F. Kennedy’s 1960 campaign.

While celebrities are often criticized for engaging in political discourse in ways that feel inauthentic, Beyoncé’s recent return to politics may be an opportunity for celebrity culture to continue to intersect with grassroots activism.

With success and controversy surrounding the 42-year-old singer Cowboy Carter album and the launch of her Cécred and SirDavis brands, there is always the possibility that her choice of political alliance could cause a backlash and only alienate her fans on the other side of the political spectrum, especially in such a divisive political climate.

In the previous comment to StoryLawrence Maslon, a professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, has questioned the true impact of celebrity endorsements on presidential campaigns. He suggested that endorsements often benefit the celebrity more than the candidate.

Despite Beyoncé’s recent endorsement of Harris, her evolution from girl group frontwoman to pop icon, business mogul and political activist seems complete.