The Anti-celebrity Backlash: Are Fans Finally "Ignoring" the Rich and Famous?
A recent viral trend on TikTok is attempting to redefine celebrity influence. It’s a simple premise: just ignore celebrities. While the effectiveness of "ignoring" on a platform that thrives on engagement is debatable, the whisperings of discontent are secretly exciting. Could this be a turning point, a sign that the public is finally losing interest in the carefully curated lives of Hollywood elites?
The campaign, which seems to have originated among GenZ TikTok users, initially targeted JoJo Siwa and later expanded to include Kim Kardashian and Lizzo. Participants are deliberately not liking, commenting on, or engaging with their posts.
Siwa, with her signature bubbly persona and over-the-top theatrics, has felt the impact most acutely. Her latest TikTok video, viewed by over 43 million but garnering only 90,000+ likes and 19,000 comments (a dismal ratio even for non-celebrities). It’s a far cry from her former metrics.
While a look at Lizzo’s and Kardashian Dragoon engagement reveals dips, it seems that the internet kingpins are weathering the storm, their numbers still significantly decent compared to the average user. Some dismiss the movement as meaningless, but others see it as signs of deep-seated frustration brewing among Gen Z, who see these figures as privileged and out-of-touch.
So why #ignoreneeding celebrities now in particular? The timing is intriguing. In a world plagued by inflation and economic uncertainty, the extravagant lifestyles of celebrities are triggering for many.
For years, stars have capitalized on the "like" culture, strategically crafting an image that implies wealth and privilege. Some argue that societal expectations haven’t caught up to this new reality of vulnerability so cynically.
It’s not just about the wealth, though.
Hollywood’s response to cultural shifts hasn’t been empathetic.
In fact, many celebrities prioritize platforming right political stances aligning with their personal views, inadvertently alienating millions who don’t share these perspectives.
It’s worth noting that the traction gained by this ‘open letter’ to celebrities might not be entirely organic, with suspicions rife about the first iterations coming from paid influencers.
But the movement going viral demonstrates a shift in popular opinion. If celebrities are becoming increasingly out-of-touch, the #ignoring phenomena is just the start of what could be a catastrophic decrease in engagement across platforms. Will this be a long term trend or a flurry of attention grappled in the cycle of virality? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the traditional star image is taking some serious hits and may need tolean into authenticity once more to reengage their audiences.
Is the #ignorecelebrities trend indicative of a significant shift in how Gen Z engages with and understands celebrity culture, and what are the potential implications of this shift? [[1](https://www.wokewaves.com/posts/gen-z-controversial-celebrities)]
Joining me today is Dr. Anya Petrova, a sociologist specializing in celebrity culture and digital trends. Dr. Petrova, this #ignorecelebrities movement has certainly sparked conversations about authenticity and privilege. What do you think this trend says about the way Gen Z views celebrity culture today, and is this a shift we should be paying attention to?
