The country is in a moment of real change, and many fans are looking at celebrities to see how they will respond to the Black Lives Matter cause. Some celebrities are showing up in a big way.
The Dixie Chicks, for example, went so far as to change their full name. They will now be known simply as The Chicks, removing the reference to the Confederate South and its tainted past.
Members of the K-pop group BTS raised a staggering amount of money for the BLM cause. Meghan Markle used her sizable platform to make people cry with a fascinating speech on the subject.
Celebrities are definitely in the headlines with their contributions to the movement, but some are being called in for their lack of response. In particular, Kylie Jenner has faced harsh criticism of her lukewarm activism, and fans are holding her contributions alongside Selena Gomez’s to make a point.
Selena Gomez has been active in the BLM movement
Gomez has not always been an advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement. In fact, she was once widely criticized for her poor response to the movement when she rejected activism on social media and her own responsibility to use her influence to spread a positive social message. Gomez found himself in the middle of the dispute between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.
When Gomez came to the defense of Swift, fans noted that Swift had not used his own influence to speak out against police brutality or racial injustice. Gomez replied in a tweet since then removed with “oh hahaha, that means if I have a hashtag something that saves lives? No, I could give two f ** ks on ‘sides’.”
It definitely seems like Gomez has changed her tune during this most recent flare on the move. Gomez was one of the celebrities (who also included Lady Gaga) who, according to Elle, volunteered her Instagram account to Black Lives Matter activists. As the latest protests and calls to action unfolded, Gomez’s account was flooded with social justice messages and publications on black history.
Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner have struggled to dominate Instagram
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It may seem strange to compare Gomez to Jenner in this particular way, but the couple have one thing in common: They top the list of celebrities with the most followers on Instagram.
Gomez had been ahead of Jenner, and her staggering 181 million followers are incredible, but Jenner surpassed her earlier this year. Jenner currently has 182.5 million followers on the platform, and her daily posts have given her the opportunity to stay constantly connected in a way that Gomez doesn’t have.
What this impressive influence on social media means is that each of these women has a tremendous platform that can signal messages of momentum far beyond what many of the activists trying to be heard can accomplish on their own. Handing over the reins to your accounts means getting the voices of those who have not been heard, the attention and recognition they need and deserve.
Fans Not Impressed With Kylie Jenner’s Response
While Gomez has certainly tapped into his influence for the cause, the same can’t be said for Jenner, and fans have noticed. A commenter took to Twitter to post side-by-side shots of the Instagram feeds of the two celebrities. Gomez’s diet was full of black faces and messages promoting social justice. Jenner’s feed was full of photos of her (one dressed as a Playboy bunny) and smoothies. The contrast was surprising.
Some commentators tried to defend Jenner by saying that his business is on Instagram and that Gomez has other avenues for success, so the risk of speaking isn’t the same, but most fans didn’t have it.
Many also noted that Jenner, who has a biracial son and has long been accused of appropriating black culture through her own fashion and style choices, has an additional personal interest in the movement, leading to her silence. be even more pronounced.
