A video alleging the amount various celebrities were paid for endorsing Kamala Harris has gone viral on X. This comes after Donald Trump emerged victorious in the U.S. presidential elections. Netizens have since taken to social media to respond to the supposed payments.
X page @TONYxTWO took to the social networking site to share TikTok user @blockopoly’s video in which a news channel alleged that Beyoncé was paid $10 million, Megan Thee Stallion was paid five million dollars, Lizzo was paid three million dollars, and Eminem was paid $1.8 million to endorse Kamala Harris.
The tweet was quick to go viral and had amassed nearly four million views at the time of writing this article. It is worth noting that no official sources have confirmed the aforementioned payments.
Meanwhile, several netizens took to X to express their shock over the alleged payments made by Kamala Harris' campaign. Speaking about Eminem receiving the least amount of money, one netizen said:
Several others took to the social networking site to share similar reactions. Comments online read:
“$10 Million for an introduction? Who was in charge of Kamala’s budget,” an X user said.
“They emptied the DNC account into their friend’s accounts,” a platform user said.
“Who needs friends when you can BUY THEM with other people's money,” a netizen said.
Other internet users went on to opine that the money spent on the celebrity endorsements was wasted. Comments online read:
“$10 million dollars for 2 seconds of Beyonce and we wonder why nobody has any money to live a decent life…,” an X user said.
“Aren’t these payments really BRIBES? And aren’t BRIBES illegal in campaigns,” another platform user said.
“Ha, Eminem got $2 million for a 20 seconds weak endorsement and introduction. What a complete idiotic sellout,” a netizen said.
Several celebrities endorsed Kamala Harris, including George Clooney, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Meghann Fahy, Fat Joe, Mark Duplass, Katy Perry, Will Ferrell, Viola Davis, Richard Gere, Will-i-am, Mick Jagger, Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, Glennon Doyle, John Oliver, and Harrison Ford, among others. Meanwhile, other comments read:
“This is why people are turning on celebrities. Finally,” an X user said.
“When you have to pay people to support you…,” another internet user said.
Oprah Winfrey revealed that she was not paid to endorse Kamala Harris
On November 11, Oprah Winfrey exclusively confirmed with TMZ that she was not paid by the Harris-Walz campaign to endorse Kamala Harris. This comes after reports of her allegedly being paid one million dollars circulated online. After Donald Trump emerged victorious, Oprah Winfrey confirmed that the reports were:
“Not true… I was paid nothing, ever.”
This is not the first time Oprah has endorsed a Democratic candidate. She has been a vocal supporter of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton in the past.
Meanwhile, experts have opined that celebrity endorsements do not make much of a change when it comes to who gets elected. Arizona State University professor Margaretha Bentley told The Guardian that,
“celebrity endorsements can increase civic engagement and voter registrations..."
However, she added that at the end of the day,
“It has not proven to have a direct impact on how people make their voting decisions.”
New York University professor Laurence Maslon told the news outlet that:
“Endorsements have probably always done more for the celebrity than the person being endorsed.”
Meanwhile, a few celebrities who endorsed Donald Trump include Megyn Kelly, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Jake Paul, Dr. Phil, Caitlyn Jenner, Mel Gibson, Joe Exotic, Zachary Levi, and more.