An Indian Observer in the American Media Storm
Despite having little interest in Charlie Kirk or his ideologies, I was shaken to my core when I heard that he had been shot. The news arrived late at night (IST). I have a friend with whom I often discuss politics, but she wasn’t available to chat, leaving me restless for several days afterwards. Even though Charlie Kirk was a political figure, he wasn't an elected official, but I still felt like discussing this with her. It became a strange sort of wake-up call for me. As an Indian, I realised how deeply I had become entangled in American politics and pop culture.
In the United States, politics and pop culture are so tightly intertwined that it is increasingly difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins. When a billionaire singer becomes engaged or an actress appears in a jeans advertisement, the news is almost immediately politicised. The boundaries blur to the point where entertainment events feel like political moments, leaving observers questioning what truly matters and what is merely spectacle.
There is also an overwhelming pressure in America to have an opinion and to voice it publicly. When that opinion strays from what one’s followers expect, the threat of “cancellation” looms large. Artists are often told they should use their platforms to advocate for causes, yet doing so risks alienating sections of their fanbase. They are, after all, human beings, not political mouthpieces.
As the 2024 presidential election approached, pop icon Taylor Swift announced her support for Kamala Harris. While it was, of course, her right to do so, many of her fans seemed to expect it. Some even sought that reassurance before casting their own votes. Yet only a year later, Swift faced accusations of racism and of secretly supporting the MAGA movement, simply for failing to condemn friends who supported Donald Trump. Even her engagement became a political talking point. Her largely left-leaning fanbase celebrated the news, while commentators on the right praised it as an example that could encourage younger Americans to marry and start families.
Actress Sydney Sweeney found herself caught in a similar storm earlier this year after appearing in a jeans advert built around a playful pun on “jeans” and “genes.” What was intended as light-hearted wordplay quickly became politicised. Critics on the left accused the campaign of promoting eugenics, while commentators on the right dismissed the backlash as needless overanalysis.
In America, the lines between celebrity, consumerism, and ideology have blurred so completely that even a pop star’s engagement or a fashion advertisement can spark a national debate. The cycle feels endless, as every gesture, statement, or silence is quickly folded into the nation’s cultural and political divide. Perhaps this is happening because we have constant access to our favourite artists and live news, which makes us take everything far too seriously. Maybe it’s time to ease up a little.
