OPINION:
Celebrity culture often creates a truly diabolical environment, with singers and actors holding an alluring and monumental sway over the masses.
It’s one of the primary reasons so many performers decide to stretch beyond their artistic prowess to push their political and social views. Many of these individuals believe wholeheartedly that they have the power to sway voters — and elections.
Though there’s some truth that the power of celebrity can be a compelling and movable factor in the hearts and minds of fans, we’ve also seen numerous elections in which some of the biggest names in Hollywood haven’t been able to turn out the progressive vote.
Just consider former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential election in 2024 despite massive support from Hollywood heavyweights. Fortunately, celebrity status doesn’t always move political needles.
But there is a far more pervasive arena in which actors and performers are able to impact hearts and minds — a more nefarious scenario that involves a slow-moving wearing down of the masses and a collective heart change that should deeply convict us.
Over the years, music and movies have incessantly inserted sexual themes, violence and alternative lifestyle narratives that have very literally swayed generations of Americans to change their opinions on important issues — even without realizing it.
In Christian circles, the term “discipling” means to intentionally help a person grow in his or her relationship with Jesus. It’s a steady process of guiding people to see God’s attributes and, in turn, transform their hearts to turn toward the Lord’s standards and beliefs.
In the same way, celebrity culture disciples Americans, but in a starkly different direction: toward proclivities that serve the self. Actor Kirk Cameron recently lamented this very issue while reflecting on singer Taylor Swift’s widespread success and influence.
“Whether you like Taylor Swift or not, her accomplishment is pretty remarkable,” Mr. Cameron recentlysaid. “I mean, she is clearly talented. She’s a gifted songwriter, many would say she’s a brilliant businesswoman, and a performer who has connected with her audience in a way that has them wearing her T-shirts everywhere.”
It’s Ms. Swift’s level of influence, though, that has Mr. Cameron concerned, as he noted that millions of Americans and others around the globe — particularly women — have latched on to the singer’s every word when it comes to the themes in her music.
From relationships to sexuality, Ms. Swift’s music and performances are, in themselves, a form of secular discipleship. And while the singer has said she is a Christian, many have lamented that some of what she espouses flies in the face of that label.
Mr. Cameron warned that some of Ms. Swift’s songs and performances “have increasingly included themes, imagery and lyrics that celebrate or normalize sexual immorality, vulgarity, ideas of revenge, drunkenness, bitterness and rebellion against biblical morality.”
And that’s precisely what has him so worried about Ms. Swift’s impact.
“When you’re influencing millions and millions of young people, you’re doing more than just entertaining them,” he said. “You’re actually discipling them. You’re showing them what is good. You’re telling them what’s true. You’re telling them what’s normal and desirable and worth pursuing.”
Mr. Cameron’s point? These ideals infused into the life and career of a woman with so much influence and sway end up shifting the hearts and minds of young people. Over time, these ideas can take root, bloom and shift a culture.
This isn’t meant to take aim at Ms. Swift, as there are many celebrities whose perspectives have the same impact. But few have as much influence.
What’s perhaps most interesting is that Mr. Cameron took the time to make an important point: He’s not looking for Christians to point fingers at Ms. Swift or to condemn her. Instead, he’s calling those with biblical fortitude to something else entirely.
“I don’t want Christians merely mocking Taylor Swift. I certainly don’t want to do that,” Mr. Cameron said. “I want us praying for her. Imagine what could happen if a woman with that level of talent and discipline and creativity and wealth and business acumen, worldwide influence, surrendered all of that to Jesus Christ and came home.”
We tend to spend a lot of time going after celebrities and condemning their behaviors. Sometimes it is warranted, but if we’re honest, we often spend more time complaining and ranting than we do praying.
The real problem with Ms. Swift isn’t her level of fame and influence. It’s the viewpoints and perspectives infused in celebrities’ work that can have long-term sway and control over our culture. And the only way to turn back the tide on that chaos is for the Lord to individually grip each celebrity’s heart and to turn it toward God’s direction.
The impact Ms. Swift would have as an outspoken, Bible-believing Christian whose values line up with Scripture would be far beyond anything we could imagine. Let’s pray for her in hopes we see this become a reality.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell is also the author of four books.
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