Amidst the ongoing economic and political turmoil, many U.S.citizens have grown weary of Hollywood’s elite flaunting their wealth and self-absorption. Despite this, celebrities have seemingly remained unaffected, their businesses and cultural influence seemingly unscathed. However, a new social media campaign may be changing the game, suggesting that the patience of fans for celebrities is wearing thin.
The trend, which originated on TikTok, has gained momentum and is now targeting celebrities like kim kardashian, with a noticeable impact on their engagement on the platform. The campaign appears to have started with a focus on JoJo Siwa, before shifting to Kardashian and Lizzo.
The “Ignore Celebrities” Campaign: A Real Impact on Engagement
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The movement gained traction after a TikTok creator known as Anita posted a video with on-screen text reading, ”bruh, imagine if we all started ignoring celebrities, like how hilarious would it be if they posted and got like 13 likes.” Commenters on the video quickly settled on Siwa as the first target before moving onto Kardashian.
Several iterations of Anita’s video have surfaced, all with identical text, as well as numerous response videos reporting drops in engagement.This raises the possibility that the trend might be an instance of “astroturfing,” an orchestrated online PR campaign that mimics organic, grassroots social media activity. Irrespective, the impact on celebrity engagement is undeniable.
After starting with Siwa, the campaign quickly moved on to Kardashian, and the results have been “literally terrible,” according to one creator who commented on the trend. Kardashian’s latest TikTok post,announcing her collaboration with clothing brand North Face,has nearly 5 million views but less than 100,000 likes and 3,300 comments. These numbers are abysmal, especially for a celebrity of her stature.
For celebrities, social media is a business, and nowadays, it’s often more lucrative than their actual creative endeavors. The rule of thumb for solid engagement-to-likes ratios on TikTok is 1 like for every 10 views and 1 comment for every 100 views. by that metric, Kardashian’s North Face video should have at least half a million likes and 50,000 comments, orders of magnitude more than she received.
Videos by Lizzo and JoJo Siwa, who have also been targeted by the campaign, have had similar results, with Siwa’s being the most pronounced. Her latest video has more than 43 million views as of this writing, with about 90,000 likes and nearly 19,000 comments.
The Power Shift: Everyday People Gaining Influence
The “Ignore Celebrities” campaign highlights a growing sentiment among U.S. citizens that celebrities are out of touch with the struggles of everyday people. As the campaign gains momentum, it’s clear that the power dynamic between celebrities and their fans is shifting. In 2024, the “everyday person” may become more powerful than celebrities and influencers, as people tire of the ostentatious displays of wealth and self-absorption that have become synonymous with Hollywood.
The Kardashian Clan and Celebrity Backlash: A Closer Look
The Kardashian family has long been a staple in the world of celebrity culture, but recent years have seen a noticeable shift in public perception. Their Hulu show, “The Kardashians,” launched in 2022, has attracted meaningful viewership but has yet to replicate the cultural impact of its predecessor, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” Even among their most dedicated fan base, there’s a growing sense of frustration and boredom with the family’s antics.
Adding to the mix are the controversial figures of Alana Hassman, known as Siwa, and Lizzo. Siwa’s over-the-top persona and constant presence in the media have made her a polarizing figure, while Lizzo has faced criticism for her legal troubles and recent weight loss, which some former fans view as a betrayal of her advocacy for body positivity.
Kim Kardashian’s public support for figures like Ivanka trump and Tesla CEO-turned-political-activist Elon Musk has also drawn criticism. With Donald Trump’s 2024 popular vote lead now evaporated as more votes are counted, these political endorsements might potentially be further alienating a younger, more progressive audience.
The broader celebrity industry has also faced a decline in popularity, especially following the tone-deaf “Imagine” video during the early days of the pandemic and the backlash against celebrities at the Met Gala for not supporting the people of Gaza. This trend of coordinated campaigns to ignore celebrities is particularly concerning when it comes to Siwa, who has faced significant homophobic backlash from the right-wing.
Despite these challenges, it’s vital to note that social media algorithms don’t discriminate between positive and negative engagement. Whether driven by genuine enjoyment or hate-watching, attention is attention. In a country increasingly plagued by economic and political turmoil,it’s understandable that many are growing tired of celebrities,especially those who seem out of touch with reality.
As a notable example, Kim Kardashian’s recent comment that “Nobody wants to work these days” after amassing a billionaire fortune through her celebrity status has not gone down well with many. It’s a sentiment that resonates with a public struggling with economic hardships and job insecurity.
Regardless of whether this trend to ignore celebrities succeeds, it’s clear that many are trying to distance themselves from the constant stream of celebrity news and drama. In a world where real issues demand attention,the allure of celebrity culture is waning.
John Sundholm, a writer and editor with over 20 years of experience in media and entertainment, covers culture, mental health, and human interest topics. He notes, “In a country increasingly gripped by economic and political turmoil, it’s understandable that a lot of us have simply had it with celebrities, especially ones who have the temerity to say, ‘Nobody wants to work these days’ after rising to the billionaire class by being rich and famous for simply growing up rich and famous.”
Whether this trend to ignore celebrities will have a lasting impact remains to be seen, but it’s a clear indication that the public’s patience with celebrity culture is wearing thin.
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John Sundholm is a writer, editor, and video personality with 20 years of experience in media and entertainment. He covers culture, mental health, and human interest topics.
The Celebrity Culture Crisis: Exploring the “Ignore Celebrities” Movement
Amidst the ongoing economic and political turmoil, many U.S. citizens have grown weary of Hollywood’s elite flaunting their wealth and self-absorption. Despite this, celebrities have seemingly remained unaffected, with their businesses and cultural influence largely unscathed. However, a new social media campaign—dubbed “Ignore Celebrities”—is gaining momentum and suggests that the patience of fans for celebrities is wearing thin. We spoke with Dr. Emily Harper, a sociologist and expert on pop culture and media influence, too delve deeper into this evolving dynamic.
The “ignore celebrities” Campaign: A Real Impact on Engagement
Senior editor: Dr. Harper, the “Ignore Celebrities” campaign has taken social media by storm, especially on TikTok. what sparked this movement?
Dr. Harper: It seems to have originated with a TikTok creator named Anita, who suggested that what if people started ignoring celebrities altogether? This notion resonated with many, as it’s reflective of a broader frustration with celebrity culture, notably during challenging times. The idea grew organically, especially as more users adopted it, targeting figures like JoJo Siwa and Kim Kardashian, showing a clear shift in engagement metrics.
Senior Editor: Can you elaborate on the impact this campaign has had on the celebrities involved?
Dr. Harper: Absolutely. The statistics are quite striking—Kardashian’s posts are getting unprecedentedly low engagement compared to her typical numbers. As a notable example, her recent collaboration with a major clothing brand received views in the millions but had less than 100,000 likes. this indicates that the influencers we once idolized may no longer hold the same allure as they once did.
The Power Shift: Everyday People Gaining Influence
Senior Editor: How does this campaign reflect larger societal changes regarding the perception of celebrities?
Dr. Harper: The ”Ignore Celebrities” trend underscores a significant shift in public sentiment towards celebrity culture. As economic hardships grow, celebrities are viewed as increasingly out of touch with the realities faced by everyday individuals. people are starting to feel empowered, and that their voices and opinions matter more than those of hollywood elites. In many ways, this is a rebalancing of power, where everyday citizens feel they have a say in the cultural narrative and are no longer passive consumers.
The Kardashian Clan and Celebrity Backlash: A Closer Look
Senior Editor: Looking specifically at the Kardashian family, how have they been impacted by this backlash?
Dr. Harper: The Kardashians have built a brand around their visibility and lifestyle,but as the public grows increasingly wary,their influence is waning. Their current show, “The Kardashians,” garners views but lacks the cultural significance of ”Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” People are bored and frustrated, feeling that the family’s image is disconnected from more pressing societal concerns. The ongoing scrutiny and criticism of other personalities like Lizzo and JoJo Siwa further illustrate that audiences are calling out contradictions between celebrity personas and their everyday actions.
Senior Editor: Do you believe this trend of ignoring celebrities will have lasting implications?
Dr. Harper: It’s certainly possible.As social media continues to empower individuals to challenge the status quo, we may see a more pronounced culture of accountability. Celebrities will have to be mindful of their public narratives and be genuine in their engagement with the issues that matter to their fans.Over time, this could significantly reshape celebrity culture into something more aligned with the everyday experiences of their audience.
Senior Editor: Thank you,Dr. harper,for sharing your insights. It seems like the landscape of celebrity culture is shifting, and the impact of movements like “Ignore Celebrities” will be captivating to observe.
Dr. Emily Harper is a sociologist specializing in the influence of media and pop culture on society. She has contributed extensively to discussions around celebrity culture and societal impacts.