CELEBRITIES’ REMAKRS OFTEN INAPPROPRIATE (3-2003)

One of the most fundamental rights guaranteed to Americans 
by the Constitution is freedom of speech. That means we all 
have the right to express our opinions, however unpopular 
they may be, at any time without fear of governmental 
reprisal.

But just because we have the right to freely express our 
opinions does not necessarily mean that we should express 
them under every circumstance. For example, just because 
one has a legal right to tell his boss that he’s ugly 
doesn’t mean it would be prudent or appropriate to do so.

In the days and weeks before the start of the war with 
Iraq, many Americans came out in protest against it. As 
long as their protests remained peaceful, they had the 
right to express their views and it was entirely 
appropriate for them to do so in such a forum.

However, certain celebrities have made use of their 
positions as public icons to bash the policies of the Bush 
administration and the war in entirely inappropriate 
venues. Certainly celebrities have as much right to express 
their opinions as anyone else. But just as it is 
inappropriate to spout derogatory remarks against a 
minority group, it is also inappropriate to use one’s 
celebrity status to espouse political views unless they do 
so at the proper time and in the right place.

One notorious example of this came at the Academy Awards 
program this month. Documentary film maker Michael Moore, 
during his acceptance speech after winning an Oscar, took 
advantage of his time in the limelight to lambaste Bush and 
his war policies. "We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame 
on you. Shame on you,” he said.

Mr. Moore has a right to his opinion, and he has a right to 
express it publicly. But it was entirely out of place to 
express his views on the stage of the Academy Awards 
program. The Oscars are handed it in an entertainment 
venue. Views expressed by the winners and hosts should be 
limited to the topic at hand.

Of course, Michael Moore is not the first celebrity to use 
his status and his Oscar win as an excuse to espouse his 
political viewpoint. Vanessa Redgrave gained notoriety 
years ago for taking similar advantage. 

And it’s not only the Academy Awards telecast that gets 
abused in this manner. Some celebrities use live 
performances to do more than sing and play the guitar. On 
March 10, during a concert in London, the Dixie Chicks’ 
lead singer Natalie Maines said, "Just so you know, we're 
ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."  

Her remark has ruffled the feathers of many of the trio’s 
most loyal fans. Mike Gallagher, South Carolina radio host, 
said, “Country music fans are red-blooded, patriotic 
Americans who support our military and support our 
commander-in-chief.” He is setting up an alternative 
country music show to compete with the Dixie Chicks concert 
scheduled for May 1 in Greenville. Gallagher’s assertion 
that all country music fans support the war may be an 
overgeneralization, but he was right in his assertion that 
the Dixie Chick’s remark was out of place.

If for no other reason, celebrities need to get the message 
that when they abuse their status to express controversial 
opinions they are going to alienate some portion of their 
audience. Obviously some are willing to take that risk. But 
others from Hollywood and the music industry simply seem 
oblivious to the consequences.