As the November 5 elections approach, Kamala Harris is receiving support from influential celebrities mobilized to encourage her supporters to head to the polls. Music and film icons such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Robert Downey Jr., LeBron James, and many others have voiced their backing for the vice president, whom they view as a symbol of freedom and equality.
Beyoncé, “Here as a Mother”
Beyoncé made a significant impact by participating in a rally for Kamala Harris in her hometown of Houston, Texas, where she allowed her song “Freedom” to be used as a campaign anthem. This emblematic support could galvanize thousands of voters, particularly women and young girls.
In a passionate speech, Queen B called for imagining a better future for young girls and generations to come: “I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother.” By presenting herself not only as a superstar but also as a concerned mother regarding the future of her children, Beyoncé successfully resonated with a wide audience, expressing her concerns about women’s rights, particularly regarding access to abortion.
Kamala Harris is striving to attract moderate Republican voters and middle-class women while leveraging the star power of celebrities like Beyoncé. With a campaign funding of over $270 million, the Democratic candidate hopes to translate the enthusiasm generated by such high-profile endorsements into votes in the upcoming elections.
Musical and Film Stars Supporting Harris
Beyoncé is not the only music star publicly showing support for the Democratic candidate. Kamala Harris is backed by a host of music stars, as is often the case with Democrats.
Taylor Swift, who has over 283 million followers, posted a lengthy message on her Instagram account expressing her support for the Democratic camp: “I’m voting for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe (…) I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos” she wrote. She signed off as “Childless Cat Lady,” an ironic nod to an insult directed at Kamala Harris by Donald Trump’s entourage.
Eminem also joined a rally in Detroit with Barack Obama, where the former president jokingly remarked, “I have done a lot of rallies, so I don’t usually get nervous. But I was feeling some kind of way following Eminem.”
Alicia Keys campaigned in Pennsylvania, a key state, alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama. Jennifer Lopez took the stage in Las Vegas, Nevada, to denounce a racist joke about Puerto Rico, her homeland, made during a Donald Trump rally. Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen have also publicly declared that they will vote for the vice president.
The 60-year-old Democrat can also count on the support of many personalities from film and television, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Harrison Ford, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Avengers Unite for Democracy
The Avengers have also mobilized once again to show their support for Kamala Harris in an effort to encourage Marvel fans to vote for the Democrat. Robert Downey Jr., aka Iron Man, posted a video on his Instagram account of a virtual meeting among Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Chris Evans (Captain America), Danai Gurira (Okoye), and Paul Bettany (Vision). Without costumes or superpowers, they took on the mission of coming up with a slogan for the Democratic candidate. “Kamala Forever,” a reference to “Wakanda Forever” from the movie Black Panther, was proposed by Danai Gurira.
Kamala Harris Gains Ground with LeBron James
LeBron James, superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers, called out on social media on October 31 in support of the Democratic candidate. “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!” wrote the “King,” accompanying his message with a video montage critiquing the racist undertones of Donald Trump’s recent rally in New York, illustrated with historical images from the civil rights struggle and the Black Lives Matter movement.