All Eyes on Rafah

A growing number of TikTok and other social media users are collectively blocking celebrities who choose to stay silent on the atrocities that have been occurring in Gaza for the past seven months. The goal is to reduce the celebrities’ advertisement revenues and force them to acknowledge what they’ve been ignoring. The movement ignited after many of these celebrities attended the Met Gala on May 6. TikTok influencer Haley Kalil—where she is known as Haley Baylee—was an engagement host at the event. She posted a video in an extravagant dress using the audio “Let Them Eat Cake” from Sophia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette. The quote was the 18th-century French queen’s pretentious response when told her starving peasants had no bread—a French staple food—to eat during the French Revolution. In my opinion—and that of others who’ve seen and reacted to the video—using this audio at such an extravagant event is extremely tone-deaf in regard to the poor conditions of the world right now—specifically in Gaza. It made the stark contrast between the lowest of the low and the highest of the high extremely apparent. Many users reacted with outrage. There’s a lot of content on TikTok comparing the Met Gala to the Capitol in the Hunger Games. The parallels are certainly there. There’s a dystopian feeling to seeing these celebrities—who seem to live in a different plane of reality—in their wildly lavish costumes, completely ignorant or choosing to be ignorant of and/or silent about the immense issues at play. 

However, there is discourse on whether it is the obligation of celebrities to use their platform to speak about the political landscape. Haley Kalil responded to the mass criticism with an apology video essentially saying she’s “just a normal person” and she’s not “educated enough” on the topic. She is not the only one—I’ve seen a lot of influencers saying they don’t want to get political and that their content has nothing to do with global conflicts. First, not being educated on the topic is no excuse when this is an international issue that’s been occurring for quite some time. While it’s important that celebrities and social media influencers educate themselves on the history of the situation, they aren’t expected to be the voice of knowledge and provide a detailed account and relay the latest information. It’s simply a case of support. Second, this isn’t an issue of politics anymore—it’s an issue of humanity. When thousands of innocent civilians—the majority of whom are women and children—are dying, preventing more innocent murders from happening becomes a greater priority than political conflicts. The situation needs people with power to speak out in order to harness more demand for a ceasefire. So it is a moral obligation of celebrities to use their massive platforms to help alleviate a humanitarian crisis. It’s a part of their role—they are influencers. It’s a choice to use their influence to gather support and funds for Gazan families and aid organizations. 

The main concern for celebrities is the risk of losing brand deals. Brands profit from consumer behavior—meaning that ultimately consumers control the market. These celebrities have partnerships and brands through which they make money, and taking a political stance can cut off revenues. For celebrities, it seems easier to stay neutral and not support one side or the other in order to prevent any backlash. But when our politicians—who ultimately sit at the top of the power hierarchy—are not listening to the voices of the people, it is up to those who have the biggest voices to lead the way in protesting against the mass murders of innocent civilians. The blockout movement intends to compel these stars to speak out. When companies lose revenue because their associated celebrities are blocked and ads fail to reach consumers, the drop in profits prompts a change in strategy. 

The block movement is working. Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift have lost hundreds of thousands of followers, and while that may seem like an insignificant portion of their followings, it has demonstrated the public demand for A-level stars to speak out. Many other influencers have started making videos about funding families in Gaza, including Lizzo and Chris Olsen. It shows that these celebrities rely on us, our attention, and our engagement. They have both the influence and the money to change the tide of the situation in Gaza. 1.3 million Palestinian people have been evacuated to Rafah—the last evacuation site in Gaza. Israel intends to use ground forces to wipe out the four Hamas battalions they believe to remain in Rafah. Millions of civilians have nowhere else to evacuate to except the already devastated parts of Gaza—north of Rafah. Starvation is at an all-time high, with children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. They are in desperate need of as much aid as possible, and celebrities not only donating but also telling their fans to donate will potentially increase contributions exponentially. 

In my opinion, silence is alignment with the wrong-doers, and every celebrity who is capable of helping the cause for humanity and chooses not to needs to realize the power their platform holds and the potential they have to help those in need. Influencers don’t need to have a political or even religious stance on the state of Israel or Palestine to donate even a small fraction of their immense wealth to stop children from dying. There are celebrities who have supported Gaza. The Weeknd donated $2 million on April 29 and $2.5 million in December 2023. SZA showed her support by shouting “Free Palestine” at her Australia Tour Stop. These acts of support raise both awareness and energy to keep fighting for the cause. They amplify the voices of the people and create a stronger backbone for the movement. If these celebrities can use their voices, so can others. 

Regarding consumers of celebrity content—the majority of whom are Gen Z—it’s clear that blocking celebrities is making a difference. There’s strength in numbers. Some may think big celebrities don’t care if you block or unfollow them, but it’s the same line of logic as voting. If everyone thinks what they do won’t make a difference, then no one will do anything. It’s critical that we not only force celebrities to promote donations and ultimately a ceasefire, but also stay informed ourselves. It’s especially important that those who want to donate give to reliable organizations and valid Go-Fund-Mes. Especially with right-wing Israeli activists blocking and vandalizing aid trucks headed for Gaza, contributions need to be made in both mass and efficiency. With the help of celebrities, it could be possible to make more direct donations that reach civilians properly. To do this, we need to use social media to circulate donation pages through the Internet and advocate for people to donate as much as they can.