Political Chaos – Fake Celebrity Endorsements in the Upcoming Election
Kevin Abbaszadeh
Staff Writer
As the 2024 election season approaches, the influence of celebrity endorsements in politics has taken a troubling turn. While many voters look to public figures for guidance, fake celebrity endorsements are threatening to distort the political playing field. These misleading endorsements can create confusion among voters and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Recently, false claims about celebrity endorsements have proliferated on social media, as highlighted by the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education group. Their new database chronicles over 550 unique instances of election-related misinformation, with fake celebrity endorsements accounting for roughly 10% of the viral posts analyzed. This includes bogus endorsements from figures like Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds. For instance, former President Donald Trump recently shared a post on his Truth Social platform featuring AI-generated images purporting to show a group of Swift fans calling themselves “Swifties for Trump.” Despite Swift’s previous criticisms of Trump, he falsely implied her endorsement, stating, “I accept!” This put Swift in the troubling situation of being expected to speak on her political views. She showed her support for Kamala Harris via Instagram, whether she spoke out due to her own passion or as a defense towards Trump’s implications is unknown.
Swift endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and has vocally opposed Trump. The images Trump shared included obviously doctored visuals, such as one depicting Swift in an “Uncle Sam” outfit. Other images, though appearing authentic, showed signs of being AI-generated, with characteristics like overly polished features and background blurring, according to Lucas Hansen, co-founder of CivAI, a nonprofit focused on raising awareness about AI’s implications.
This manipulation is part of a broader trend, with various celebrities allegedly endorsing or denouncing candidates simultaneously, leading to a chaotic environment of misinformation. Posts claiming endorsements from high-profile figures like NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, actor Morgan Freeman, and musician Bruce Springsteen have racked up over 10 million views. Such fabricated claims can significantly influence public perception and voter behavior, especially among younger demographics, who are particularly susceptible to celebrity influence.
The spread of fake endorsements is exacerbated by recent changes in social media platform policies. Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of X (formerly Twitter), moderation teams designed to curtail the spread of election disinformation were dismantled. The platform’s AI-powered chatbot, Grok, has drawn criticism for disseminating false information, including misleading claims about Kamala Harris’ eligibility in the 2024 election. As users can now create AI-generated images with Grok, the potential for spreading fake political content has increased significantly.
While companies like Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, have implemented some measures to counter misinformation, the efficacy of these strategies is still in question. The deluge of misleading material, whether generated through AI or traditional methods of image manipulation, can impact public perception, even if users are aware that the claims are false. As Peter Adams, senior vice president for research at the News Literacy Project, noted, repeated exposure to falsehoods can create a lingering impression of a candidate’s popularity, regardless of their legitimacy.
The rise of fake celebrity endorsements poses a significant threat to the integrity of the upcoming elections. In a landscape rife with misinformation, the responsibility lies within both voters and platforms to ensure that our democratic process remains fair and transparent.
Contact Kevin at abbaszke@shu.edu