This past year at the Grammys, there were many political statements made during the ceremony. From political statements with wardrobes such as Joy Villa’s “build the wall” dress and Ricky Rebel’s pro-Trump suit; to Janelle Monáe’s speech about the #TimesUp movement and U2’s performance as a statement in support of pro-immigration.
Award ceremonies making political statements is always a weird thing to see. Unfortunately, this is nothing new.
Celebrities have been making political statements at award shows for years now. Big name celebrities such as Will Smith and Eminem have even boycotted the Grammy’s. This past year, Ariana Grande herself boycotted the Grammys. Although, her reasoning was more personal than political.
The tradition of political statements at awards ceremonies, at least as early that I have come across, begins with Marlon Brando in the 1970s.
Brando was boycotting the Oscars that year. Instead, he sent a Native American activist in his place. When it was announced that he had won, she declined the award for him as a statement against the portrayal of Native Americans in film and television. This would not be the last time this topic was used as the subject for activists at awards ceremonies.
Award shows such as the Grammys and the Oscars bring celebrities from all different backgrounds and genres together in one place for a brief moment in time. This does not happen often throughout the year.
This means these events bring in vastly different viewership. Fans with different tastes in genres and from different backgrounds tune in to see if their favorite celebrity won.
Fans of Janelle Monáe may not care so much for U2’s music, but they may love the pro-immigration statement message they put out.
Award shows like these offer celebrities a national platform to voice their message. A one or two minute nationally televised speech could potentially reach far more viewers than any social media post.
The first amendment protects these celebrities and their right to freedom of speech and protest. The same freedom that allows me to voice my opinion in this article.
I can understand these reasons, I still don’t agree with them.
To tune into an awards show is a spectacle for all to marvel in. It should be fun and entertaining. As something that is entertaining, it should be an escape from the world.
On any given day we are forced to endure hours upon hours of stress, sadness and mental exhaustion. To sit down in front of a television and click on the power button of the remote control is a good relief to many of us. It offers an escape from this crazy world and from reality for only a moment.
To have to sit through many political statements and have to be brought back to the real world while I’m trying to watch something to entertain myself – not really something I would look forward too.
There’s also the thought that it should only be about the award shows themselves. Not advertisements for political issues going on in the world.
