Beyoncé is set to join Vice-President Kamala Harris at a Texas rally on Friday, according to CBS News, which partners with the BBC in the U.S. Her appearance will happen in her hometown of Houston, just days before the November 5 election.
Harris frequently plays Beyoncé’s song Freedom at events, though Beyoncé has not yet been active in the campaign.
Earlier this year, there were rumors Beyoncé might join Harris at the Democratic National Convention, but she didn’t attend. The rally will also feature Texas Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred, country singer Willie Nelson, and Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles.
Beyoncé has a history of supporting Democrats. She performed with Jay-Z for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and backed Barack Obama in both of his campaigns, as well as Joe Biden in 2020 and Beto O’Rourke in his 2018 Texas Senate run.
Other celebrities have also endorsed Harris, such as Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and Lizzo, while Donald Trump has gained support from figures like Elon Musk and Kid Rock.
The BBC reports that celebrity endorsements can sometimes energize voters by reducing issues like apathy or lack of trust in politics. For instance, a Harvard study noted that celebrities help encourage people to vote by addressing the “lack of information” that might keep people from engaging.
However, these endorsements aren’t always effective. For example, a Quinnipiac University poll in September showed Taylor Swift’s support for Harris actually made some people less enthusiastic about her, showing that celebrity influence can vary greatly.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9xw8ln8pzo