Just weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris received the endorsement of pop superstar, rock legend Bruce Springsteen threw his support behind her as well. In a video post on Instagram, the 75-year-old rocker—who is known simply as “The Boss”—suggested this is “one of the most consequential elections in our nation’s history.”
The “Born in the USA” singer further offered a critique of former President Donald Trump, while he lamented the fact that the nation is as “politically, spiritually and emotionally divided” as at any time since the American Civil War.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Springsteen added.
The endorsement wasn’t entirely surprising, as Springsteen has a long history of backing Democrats. He previously endorsed Barack Obama in 2008, and in the 2020 U.S. presidential election provided a narration for a Joe Biden campaign ad while the song “My Hometown” played in the background.
Whether Springsteen’s endorsement will move the needle in this year’s razor-close election isn’t clear, it likely could cost him some fans due to the deep political divide he warned about.
“Steve Van Zandt was quoted recently as saying Bruce’s political views had cost the band a lot of fans,” explained Bruce Barber, professional in residence at the University of New Haven and general manager of radio station WNHU. “He’s probably right—but that to me is what a true artist is all about, the ability to speak truths, in words and song, regardless of the consequences. Springsteen’s support for Kamala Harris is definitely not a surprise, but it’s another example of his undying commitment to being genuine in his art and his personal life.”
What About Bill?
Just as Springsteen released his endorsement of Harris, it was another celebrity that went viral on Thursday—namely, What About Bob? actor Bill Murray for his alleged backing of Trump.
Internet personality Bo Loudon posted a clip of Murray from 2016 “praising” some of the former president’s policies, and suggested “Who needs Taylor Swift when you have BILL MURRAY?”
The clip, which was seen nearly six million times, seemed to convince many that the Ghost Busters star had endorsed Trump. However, as of Friday afternoon, Bill Murray has been silent on the issue and hasn’t endorsed either candidate. According to Vanity Fair, Murray had campaigned for the Green Party’s Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential race—but perhaps that was “lost in translation.”
Murray would just be the latest celebrity to see his/her/their endorsement of a candidate—even if it wasn’t made. Such endorsements might barely move the needle, but given how close this race is every single vote is going to matter.
“Celebrity endorsements are very important in today’s political world,” said Dr. Julianna Kirschner, lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.
“Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz has made notable political, cultural, and social waves. Likewise, other celebrities endorsing candidates can have a similar ripple effect,” added Kirschner.
Expect More Faux Endorsements
A video clip from eight years ago is hardly an endorsement, but it was enough for many to believe that Murray was a Trump supporter.
“Without any corroborating evidence, the comment’s validity appears dubious at best,” suggested Kirschner. “News organizations verify facts from several sources before broadcasting them, which is the likely reason for a lack of reporting on the subject. All we have right now is conjecture, a premise through which misinformation on social media thrives.”
These faux endorsements are just the latest form of misinformation that we’ve seen this election cycle. In this particular case, the video is just enough to make the story seem credible.
“Misinformation booms when information cannot be validated. In this case, Murray’s position is unclear,” added Kirschner. “Users may double down when presented with contrasting information is presented to them. There is plenty of research that would support the likelihood of such an outcome. Given the high chances of users doubling down, the possibility of celebrity endorsements moving the needle would be small but not insignificant. In the tight race we are in, everything, no matter how small, makes a difference.”
How Should Celebrities Respond?
The other side of this story is that Swift and Springsteen could receive some backlash from fans, but as Barber noted, the Boss likely knew it going in. In Murray’s case, he could face scrutiny for something he didn’t even do.
As an A-lister, he likely won’t be impacted; yet, we could see the careers of up-and-comers affected—perhaps running afoul of a casting director, movie producer, publicist, etc.
“From the celebrity’s perspective, they should be concerned with how they are politically represented online. This can affect their reputation and potential support from fans, which inevitably allows them to continue to do their work,” Kirschner continued.
And the problem could get worse. Murray may have actually offered his past comments in an interview, but advances in deep fakes could soon put words into the mouths of celebrities—living and dead alike!
“As AI becomes more advanced, it is likely that comments, images, and videos of what appears to be celebrities endorsing a candidate may be outright false,” warned Kirschner. “As cases like Murray’s attributed comment come up in the future, it will become increasingly challenging to discern fact from fiction.”
