Celebrity Advocacy is a #GoodThing

There are costs and benefits to celebrity advocacy. On the one hand they can bring incredible amounts of attention to a cause or issue where there would otherwise be none, but on the other they can exacerbate a diplomatic situation or create more issues for those trying to rectify those problems. The argument between Dieter and Cooper, similarly played out in class, underscores these points, with cooper remaining optimistic and supportive of such advocacy and Dieter lambasting it. It begs the question, one asked in class, of whether celebrity advocacy is worth it?

I enjoyed this question very much because like states people are fairly autonomous actors, especially rich people who have a global audience and maintain passports that can get them wherever they want to go. If a famous person wants to advocate something, they're going to advocate for it and nothing you are I say will change that. But for the sake of argument I would like to take the side of defending celebrity advocacy.

While it is true that celebrities lack a mandate, "competence," and have the possibility of making a situation worse, the sheer number of pros for celebrity activism outweigh those cons. They can act far more quickly in crises than governments or organizations; there are no rules on how they spend money, thereby allowing them to marshal resources quickly and effectively for rapid reaction. They can slide between both the public and private spheres; a celebrity can influence both public and private actors because of their fame, allowing them to assist in positive outcomes for their cause. Some even have access to world leaders, diplomats, and politicians. Most importantly, however, they have access to the public. Celebrities, despite being rich and famous, remain far more relatable to people than a bookish diplomat or politician. When they talk people are already listening closer because, aside from their fame, they communicate on a similar wavelength. They are used to communicating to the public at large. As such, celebrities can raise awareness, fundraise, and call people to action far more effectively than a lay person or public servant ever could. The risk of them "making the situation worse" is always there. In my mind, however, doing nothing is always worse than trying to do something.