Celebrity grandstanding prove words without deeds to be dead

Having entered the fourteenth month of this second Trump administration, the fourteenth month of this authoritarian takeover rather, the act of speaking out and against the regime, particularly against their attacks on non-white communities under the guise of “combating illegal immigration,” has reached somewhat of a state of social normalcy. Certain celebrities have grown comfortable using their platform to do so, and for good reason. Ultimately, in times such as this, it is utterly imperative that those in opposition, who possess any meaningful sort of platform or influence, use it to create the major change they’re capable of. 

One of the more prominent examples of explicit action taken by some of America’s most influential figures, at least recently, occurred early in February at the Grammy’s. At this event, with millions of people watching, celebrities such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, Billie Eilish, and Kehlani used their immense power and influence by… wearing pins. Specifically, they wore “ICE OUT” pins that certainly expressed disapproval, and not much else. Some may point to certain award winners, particularly Bad Bunny, who did at least dedicate parts of their speeches to expressing love and appreciation for immigrants, encouraging national unity. However, these are ultimately empty gestures with little real-world impact, especially when you consider the aforementioned immense influence and wealth of the celebrities making these statements. 

At the end of the day, the common American who stays informed and uses their right to protest creates more positive change than these celebrity superstars. If people like Bad Bunny or Justin Bieber genuinely wanted to use their platform and resources to the fullest extent to help victimized groups, especially in these unprecedented times, they would seek out ways to create tangible social change. Ultimately, no matter how many times celebrities may say they’re in favor of changing the systemic issues that our society faces, these celebrities enjoy comfortable lives under the present circumstances, regardless of how much they may disagree with them politically. These multimillionaires have a lot more to lose than the average American, and will always be more inclined to maintain the status quo than risk the uncertainties of genuine, large-scale social progress.

Seemingly, the only real effect of celebrities speaking out like this is the possibility that their words could encourage people, especially their fans who may not feel one way or another politically, to support the cause of immigrants in America. On paper, that doesn’t sound bad, but at the end of the day, the depth of those people’s support for the cause is, in many cases, entirely dependent on their devotion to that particular celebrity. It seems as though many Americans need the celebrities they follow to speak out like this to process and realize that what’s going on is wrong. 

In times such as this, people should be keeping up with the news, and if one is, there should be no need to be “told” how to feel. It’s incredibly frustrating seeing so much of the American public choose to ignore what they see with their own eyes. People are being kidnapped from their cars, locked in metal cages flooding with waste, and getting sent to countries they’ve never once stepped foot in—all of this should make it incredibly clear that America is in a terrible state right now. Nobody should need their favorite artist to convince them of that. Right now, we can’t praise opposition alone, and we must praise those who take action and do real, tangible things to right injustice. Considering this, people like Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny haven’t even met the bare minimum. These people possess so much influence and so much wealth, calling them “activists” for social change would be like calling a quarter received from a billionaire as “charity.” 

As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and what little we’ve gotten in words from these celebrities is nowhere near the volume America needs, deserves, and can have. What would make noise is any of these stars using their resources to create physical, visible change. One particular person of “celebrity” status who has used their platform effectively as an activist has been Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, who’s called for deliberate action on specific issues (including, but not limited to peace in Gaza, Planned Parenthood and LGBTQ+ rights) and has acknowledged that mere statements by celebrities aren't enough. If these celebrities genuinely want to create real social change, it would be through charitable donations, using their mass influence to organize protests and inspire community organizing, or using their platforms to support victims of mass incarceration. What’s needed now is real, genuine, seeable progress.

However, it would be utterly foolish to depend entirely on superstars and celebrities to create the change America needs. After all, under the current system, these people possess more money, property, and power than they could ever need; devoting any of it to what could be controversial social change risks losing all of it. No matter how much these people may say they disagree with the state of society right now, nearly all of them live in total comfort and luxury under the present conditions. Understanding that, it becomes clear that these celebrities will never provide to the extent they should. One can’t hope to be fully fed by the people who benefit from their starvation. In times like this, people ought to rely on their loved ones and communities, working to resist and protect their neighbors from the secret police that threaten them. 

Ultimately, if one were to use social media to do things like sharing important information (e.g., patterns of ICE detentions in one’s state, local immigrant and civil rights groups that provide support for those that need it, recent relevant legislation and political movements) they would do so much more than those who simply repost a video of one’s favorite musician declaring their disapproval of ICE and Border Patrol. Better yet, even more progress would be made if more people went out and used their right to protest. In the words of social justice and civil rights activist Dorothy Day, “everybody wants a revolution, but nobody wants to do the dishes.” Similarly, there are many Americans today who genuinely want to resist the current administration and their attacks on immigrant communities, but there’s also a large shortage of individuals willing to do the work required to do so. Things have progressed to a point where symbolic gestures are no longer enough to create the change America needs. What’s needed now is decisive, intentional action that pressures those in power to bring justice.

by Veronica Holladay

Published March 2, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue V