The warning signs were there. All of Hollywood lined up for Hillary Clinton, doing endorsements, fight songs, and appearances to help get the Democratic candidate into the White House, only to be beaten by Donald Trump.
But that could be written off as a fluke, a one-off of unique circumstances.
2024 is different. Harris was far less controversial to most of the country. The media genuinely adored her, doing glam shots and fawning interviews (when she allowed them) and turning her into a universal girlboss icon before the elections were even held.
All the coolest and most popular celebrities stood by her - Taylor Swift, the Avengers actors, Harrison Ford, Cardi B. It was never cooler than to be with Kamala and her K-Hive. And it completely failed.
The turnout even of deep blue areas in the United States, where these celebrities' biggest fans might be expected to heed the call to vote for Harris, stayed home in much larger numbers than in 2024. Even younger voters, usually a guaranteed winner for Democrats, shifted right or stayed home.
2024 was thus the swan song of conventional celebrity endorsements of candidates. They don't matter at all. Voters ignore them when going to the polls and deciding who will run the country.
That's a good thing. Democracy is too serious a matter to be left to whether your favorite actor or singer supports them, turning the whole issue into an episode of reality TV rather than a referendum on governance.
Hollywood should stick to what they're best at - entertaining us - and leave serious politics for the electorate.
