Celebrities should not be required to talk about issues they are not educated on. We should leave the talking to political figures and public officials. It is appreciated when a celebrity makes a statement regarding a global issue, but it is not a basic requirement for them to use their platform when they could donate money or do things in private to help their cause. Recently, a TikTok celebrity named Elyse Meyers left TikTok and Instagram. Some have assumed her leaving was due to pressures to speak about the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

Meyers, who has a son with a heart problem, should not have been pushed off the app which served as her comfort because people felt it was her responsibility to make a statement. While influencers and celebrities can use their voice for good, they may not feel as though they have enough information to say the right thing. With the world split as it is right now, saying the “right” thing looks different to everyone. Lately, when I go to a TikToker’s comment section, I see a bunch of people asking them to talk about the Israel-Palestine conflict. I do not believe commenting requests will make anyone speak on something they have decided they will remain quiet about.

Celebrities and influencers are normal people, and while they may be held to a higher standard than the average person, it is unfair to expect them to want to save the world. However, I can understand why a follower may want their favorite celebrity to discuss world problems, as it would get the word out to more members of the public. Although, with cancel culture being so cruel, if a public figure says the wrong thing, it might be their last day in the spotlight. I, like many people, suffer from anxiety. If one has severe anxiety and feels as if their words may cause harm or conflict, they may hesitate to talk about issues that bear a heavy weight. 

A couple of years ago a TikTok star named Auntie Amanda got canceled for lying about her political views to keep her followers. No one should feel as though they should lie in order to be respected or liked. I fear a lot of influencers may take the untruthful route so they can gain praise and attention. People want authenticity in all aspects of life, and a fake stance is no better than the “wrong” one. Many people rely on TikTok for information and that can be very misleading; if uneducated people are talking about important topics, they might consume and receive false information and then continue to spread it. Consumers, including children, can be very impressionable and gullible. Going forward we should hold our political figures accountable for discussing critical matters, not regular people who happened to become famous and gained a large following. 

Photo by: Ivan Samkov via Pexels