When Celebrities Mislead: How Misinformation from Famous Faces Affects Us
When we feel connected to famous people, we often convince ourselves that we know them personally. This tendency fuels fanbases and leads us to have expectations about the content they share or endorse. Celebrities craft well-curated brands, presenting specific images they protect. But these brands are not synonymous with who these people really are. Celebrities are not their brands, and most of them do not even know we exist—they are not our friends.
When a headline breaks that a celebrity has ventured into conspiracy theories or misinformation, my immediate reaction is often disbelief. I think, "Oh no, she should know better than that." Yet I set myself up for disappointment when I expect even a basic understanding of socio-political issues from anyone who isn’t a trained analyst.
I generally assume celebrities deserve basic respect, believing that they live in reality, possess decency, and have a pinch of common sense. However, no matter how low I set the bar, someone always manages to fall short. When famous people use their platform to spread misinformation, it’s hard not to cringe.
Celebrity culture, amplified by social media, has created quasi-relationships with people who don’t know us. We hope that the public personas we admire align with who they are in real life. For instance, many feel like they know Oprah Winfrey and expect her to be informed. It's disappointing when those expectations are unmet. Similarly, it’s heartbreaking when a rapper I admire suddenly promotes flat-earth theories or denies our shared cultural heritage, like the trans-Atlantic slave trade. At that point, I have no choice but to remove their music from my playlists.
I’ve felt this same disappointment with celebrities tied to harmful movements, such as those revealed as leaders within Scientology. This organization capitalizes on celebrity culture to spread its message. Similarly, Donald Trump leveraged his fame to dive into politics, initially through birtherism, and his followers trusted him because they “knew” him from TV. This has become his playbook for manipulating public opinion, and we’ve seen the consequences.
As we approach the next election, celebrities spreading misinformation will likely become more common, echoing strategies that appeal to divisive ideologies. I hope that those with large platforms will pause before spreading falsehoods, ensuring that they contribute positively to public discourse. After all, while no one should rely on celebrity Instagram posts for serious political guidance, the damage of misinformation can seep into broader conversations, distorting truths that matter most.
