A month after distancing itself from the Democrats, Hollywood is now showcasing its star power at the party's national convention this week to formally nominate Kamala Harris for US president. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Legend, Billy Porter, and Mindy Kaling are among the entertainment luminaries expected in Chicago, the venue for the four-day Democratic National Convention starting on Monday. Kaling, famous for the long-running comedy hit The Office, was chosen as one of four hosts to emcee primetime events on the convention stage, alongside Scandal co-stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn, and The View commentator Ana Navarro. Each will host one night, introducing segments and making periodic remarks, similar to an Oscars host. Other celebrities will lead nighttime parties and concerts, and in the case of Veep TV star Louis-Dreyfus, moderate a policy discussion with female governors.
This enthusiasm represents a significant shift from mid-July, when George Clooney and other disillusioned stars publicly urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race. Some had even threatened to withhold campaign contributions to the party. The mood shifted when Biden ended his re-election bid, and support coalesced around Vice-President Harris, a native Californian who is well-acquainted with Hollywood, having served as both attorney general and a US senator for the state. Now, actors and musicians are eager to participate in the convention or other Harris events, according to political consultants.
"They are genuinely, authentically excited about this ticket, not just as celebrities but as individuals, as parents, as creators," said Donna Bojarsky, a Democratic strategist who has collaborated with celebrities. Other stars might also make appearances inside the convention hall. There is growing speculation about pop superstar Beyonce, given her previous support for Democrats. In 2013, Beyonce performed the National Anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration, and in 2016, she and husband Jay-Z headlined a concert encouraging people to vote for Hillary Clinton. More recently, the Grammy winner allowed the Harris campaign to use the song Freedom to energize crowds at public events, as reported by CNN. Last year, Beyonce gifted concert tickets to Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff.
Beyonce's publicist did not respond to inquiries about whether the singer would participate in the convention. Many Hollywood actors, producers, and filmmakers consider Harris as their local candidate. She resides with Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer, in the celebrity-populated Brentwood on the west side of Los Angeles. Media executives and stars became familiar with her during her campaigns for state office and her presidential run in 2020. However, in some Democratic circles, there is concern that an excessive number of celebrity supporters could provoke a backlash. Some believed Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election, projected an image of elitism with a long lineup of stars campaigning for her.
Bojarsky does not share this concern. She believes that entertainers' support aids candidates by attracting media and public attention, and by offering validation in a culture driven by celebrity. For Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, celebrity endorsements might be more significant than in previous campaigns, she said. "This campaign is about the zeitgeist," Bojarsky noted. "It's about being at the right place, about where people's hearts and minds want to be." When celebrities endorse a candidate, "it reinforces the idea that this is where you want to be," she explained.
While Hollywood figures typically support Democrats, Republican candidate Donald Trump attracted some notable backers at his party's convention in Milwaukee in July. Country singer Lee Greenwood, pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, and reality TV personality Savannah Chrisley were among those who appeared in his support. The Democratic convention will extend beyond traditional Hollywood. A blue carpet will be laid out for social media stars to create content for their followers. Comedian and actor Matt Friend will conduct interviews that will be featured on Snapchat. Following the convention, Hollywood personalities are expected to participate in campaign rallies and voter mobilization efforts in the weeks leading up to the November 5 election.
