Pop stars have money, influence, fame – but do they have integrity? Or at least, to what extent does their integrity reach? No matter how big a pop star's audience or fame is, our society cannot afford to be silent.
If you had asked me two years ago who my favorite artist was, I would have responded immediately: Taylor Swift. Ask me now and I would say something different. On the 3rd of March 2024, I was screaming to the lyrics of all her songs, hair plastered to my forehead in a crowd of almost 60,000 people. Now she's starting to become a distant memory in my life.
Since 2023, I've tracked each album release and update. When I watched her documentary, Miss Americana, I admired her even more as she made the decision to take her first political stance, siding against conservative senator Marsha Blackburn's campaign.
Swift then went on to condemn the overturn of Roe v. Wade, wrote songs about politics, and encouraged people to vote. She later supported Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential elections.
This was her final statement – there were no outright comments since.
Looking back, this was the beginning of a shift towards silence.
I know it's not a pop star's job to speak out against injustice. That's why we have politicians.
But after her record-breaking Eras Tour, Swift seemed to speak out less and less. By contrast, the problems in this world have only increased in severity: women's rights being stripped away in Afghanistan, wars raging in the Middle East, natural disasters bringing devastation in South America and Asia.
For someone who wants to be on "the right side of history", she hasn't spoken up about the events that prove to be among the worst humanity has faced.
We need someone with influence to speak up now more than ever.
But Swift remained quiet.
Admittedly, she has taken down her music from the White House's reels, but her inconsistent bursts of activism make me question whether she truly cares about global issues.
This may seem like I detest Swift, but I don't. I understand.
Swift's job relies on public support. Taking too strong a stance could ruin her career.
But for me, it's important to be vocal and remain committed to being on "the right side of history".
So now if you ask me, "Who is your favorite artist?", I would tell you a different answer. I would tell you that she created a festival with an all-female lineup, feminist art, female-owned businesses, and 45,000 people. On 29 August 2026, Olivia Rodrigo headlined the Daisy Chain Fields festival aimed at raising money for ten non-profits, one of which was Planned Parenthood–an organization that provides abortions.
During the festival, Rodrigo raised an initial $10 million (later doubled by philanthropist Melinda French Gates) and sang "Serena Joy", her new song based on the respective character in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. The song addresses patriarchy and how women who support it are ultimately negatively affected by it.
It's clear that both the song and the festival have political undertones. With increasingly restrictive abortion and regressing women's rights, a festival that supports women and girls is a form of protest.
And this isn't the first time Rodrigo has stood up for women and girls. In the past she has spoken out against the overturn of Roe v. Wade and launched the Fund 4 Good initiative which supports non-profits that help females.
Rodrigo just released an album. She's about to start her international tour. She may not have the same following as Swift, but her bravery to take a political stance, when her following, career, and music is at risk, gives me hope that there are people who are committed to advocating for global issues.
To answer the question, no matter how big their career or audience is, a pop star should use their power to build people up, not tear them down or remain silent. Given where we are as a society, we can no longer afford to be this way.
