Layla Bautista
The era of celebrity worship is coming to an end, and with it, the sympathy for celebrities who refuse to act.
On the 27th January 2025, Selena Gomez crying took to her Instagram in a flood of tears saying: “I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked, the children… I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t.”
Gomez, who is of Mexican descent, ends her message with the words: “I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”
Not long after, Gomez received backlash for this open display of emotion.
Many say that because she is a celebrity – and one of the most famous pop stars of this generation — she has a great deal of power to make an impact.
However, I think we need to start deconstructing how we view celebrities and “influencers” to ask the question: Are our expectations of celebrities too high?
Why Did Selena Gomez Even Make That Video?
In January 2025, Trump’s administration ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to arrest immigrants who entered the country illegally.
As of early 2022, the US Department of Homeland Secuitry estimated more than 11 million migrants have entered the United States illegally, the BBC reported.
Many fleeing gang violence and economic deprivation, in a bid for a better life in the United States
Gomez’s video was in response to the news, but she unexpectedly received a strong backlash from critics, labelling her “out of touch”.
Tom Homan, the Trump-appointed Border Czar, responded to her video on Fox News with a stern statement: “We’re gonna make our community safer. It is all for the good of this nation. And we’re gonna keep going. No apologies. We’re moving forward.”
“No matter how you feel about Trump, immigration or Selena Gomez, seeing families being ripped apart is absolutely heartbreaking.”
Many have accused Gomez of using her platform selectively for digital activism, and she was even added to the 2024 digital mobilization campaign #blockout list, which sought to boycott celebrities who remained silent on the Gaza humanitarian crisis.
Losing 800,000 followers since the video’s release, Gomez’s outcry signals a form of celebrity fatigue from her former followers.
Out Of Touch Celebrities
No matter how you feel about Trump, immigration or Selena Gomez, seeing families being ripped apart is absolutely heartbreaking.
But many people feel that affluent pop stars should not influence political issues; their opinions should not have a bearing on the public.
“Overall, celebrities’ opinions should be treated as just that — opinions. While the world rages on in chaos, they are able to maintain their lavish lifestyles.”
I don’t believe that Selena Gomez is more informed on the political issues going on in the world than the average person, but we must remember that she is a public figure in the area of music and film, not politics.
Influencers are not political activists and should not be relied upon to speak out against injustices.
Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out
We have seen how selective celebrities are when it comes to speaking out against political and social issues.
But, there are celebrities and influencers who are more productively speaking out against injustice in the world.
“Gomez’s lack of action could highlight a form of indifference, as she needs not take action against a system that has served her well.”
Jennifer Lawrence recently partnered with Malala Yousafzai, a women’s rights activist and Nobel laureate, to shed light on Afghanistan’s treatment of women.
As we have seen in recent months, the Taliban has suppressed Afghan women’s rights, according to The Guardian.
Women are forbidden from being seen in public, receiving an education and speaking in public.
Many consider Lawrence’s project, “Bread and Roses (2023)” , to be a form of digital resistance and activism.
In an interview with the BBC, Lawrence shares that she “just wanted to do something… It was important for us to get eyes inside Kabul because that’s exactly what the Taliban did not want.”
The main difference between Gomez and Lawrence is that
took action to make a meaningful contribution. Whereas Gomez, one of the most followed and wealthy celebrities, simply uploaded a story on her Instagram.
Gomez’s lack of action highlights a form of indifference, as she needs not take action against a system that has served her well.
Expectation Vs. Reality
Overall, celebrities’ opinions should be treated as just that — opinions. While the world rages on in chaos, they are can maintain their lavish lifestyles.
Although celebrities such as Gomez may sympathise with many social and political issues, due to the economic and power disparity, they will never fully grasp the issues that ordinary people face.
Maybe it is time to end the era of expecting celebrities to speak out against social injustices. Instead, we should start holding those who are really responsible accountable for making change.
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Featured image courtesy of Lisa Bjorheim on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.
