The Politics of Celebrity
Guest Column
In the new movie First Man, there’s an obvious omission in Neil Armstrong’s 1969 planting of the United States flag on the moon. Director Damien Chazelle’s controversial decision notto include a scene that depicts the historical moment, for seemingly political reasons, has created a conversation in the press that partially overshadows the significance of one of the most incredible achievements of all mankind, especially so for the thousands of Americans that strove to make it possible.
The increasing trend of using the entertainment industryas the preferred forum for political and cultural discussion is both unfortunate and disturbing. Particularly so when, as journalist Kevin Fallon recently stated, we are “at a time when television and the entertainment industry possess a pulsing immediacy and more cultural and social value than perhaps any time in recent history.
We express our politics through our actors, directors, athletes, and other celebrities instead of our clergy, political representatives, and neighbors. Inundated daily with facts about celeb salaries, cars, homes, outbursts, and, of course, ad nauseam political opinions, the average citizen would be hard-pressed to recite near as many facts pertaining to the character traits, political stances, voting records, or moral backgrounds of our religious and elected political leaders — including those pursuing election, most importantly in 2020.
One of the most notable distinctions the Obama administration should be recognized and remembered for is the fact that it's one of the few presidential tenors in history void of substantial scandal. And yet, we as a nation, having just elected and re-elected the first African American president in our history, were next forced to choose as Obama's successor either reality star Donald Trump, recorded just prior to the election making the comment “grab ’em by the p*$#y,” or his controversy-ridden opponent, Hilary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, long known for his chronic ethical and sexual infidelities.
Celebrities such as Matt Damon, Norm McDonald, and Bryan Cranston are quickly ostracized for their comments even referencing the #MeToo movement, while Donald Trump and Bill Clinton avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Mr. Clinton was most recently quoted and criticized for his comment, “I think the norms have really changed in terms of, what you can do to someone against their will,” while appearing on PBS. Was there ever an official level of acceptance for such actions?
If one wonders what having old “Horny Bill” would have been like as the first “first gentleman” in history, watch a few minutes (or longer if you can stomach it) of his lecherous gawking at 25-year-old Arianna Grande at Aretha Franklin's recent funeral — the same funeral where officiating Pastor Charles H. Ellis III, of Detriot’s Greater Grace temple, looked to be groping the young female performer for a prolonged period on live national television.
If the long overdue social-change movements are going to be successful, we're going to need better ambassadors than Asia Argento, whom, along with now-deceased boyfriend Anthony Bourdain, tried to silence her own 17-year-old accuser with payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars. After admitting to having intercourse with the underaged teen, Argento then claimed she herself was the victim.
The boundaries and protocol of how we interact with our neighbors, male or female, should be applicable to the average person — not just victims of high-profile celebrities that set the norm of pop culture and influence their fans’ perspectives. Our leaders, political, or theological, cannot be exempt or inactive, and there must be some form of due process involved before persecution. We also have to finally hold accountable the most well-known and prevalent enablers of predators in history, the original #MeToo offenders within the Catholic church.
I'm not addressing anyone's personal faith, only the corrupt leaders, whose intolerable and well-documented actions throughout decades have harmed countless thousands and now threaten to destroy the very core of the institution they are entrusted to uphold. It's past time for these ubiquitous and ignored atrocities to end, and the perpetrators to be served their due justice. There must also be open dialogue without intimidation or fear of swift and severe repercussions for anyone willing to speak out.
As a registered voter I don’t want the risk of being disappointed when Cardi B's support of Cynthia Nixon isn't as effective as Nikki Minaj's support of incumbent Mario Cuomo. I will not be voting for Kanye West in 2024, when he is “able to commit.” I will not be voting for Oscar De La Hoya (though he most likely could kick any other world leader’s ass in the ring). I do not want a crossover, such as Al Franken — former celebrity politician, now unemployed hypocrite — whom at least has experience in modern politics as a representative. And most importantly, I do not believe the popularity of Tom Hanks or Oprah Winfrey qualifies either of them to unseat our current reality TV President in 2020.
It is imperative we hold our career politicians, elected officials, and theological leaders to the same ethics and moral standards to which we hold our celebrities.
The presidency of the United States is the most important job in the world. As the super power, we are entrusted as the peacekeepers of the world. This is the time for our nation to begin serious vetting — on both sides of the aisle — to assure we have the most qualified political candidates we can entrust to take the country in the direction that is best for all. The omnipresent choice of the “lesser of two evils” should not be the status quo in any future elections.
Let Hollywood and the entertainers tell us the story afterward.
Christopher Struble is the president of The Michigan Hemingway Society, owner of a small local business, a historian, and avid outdoorsman residing in Petoskey.