It seems like it is hard to support just about anyone these days. Whether it is Kanye’s support of MAGA or Azealia Banks’ constant Twitter rants, more and more artists are becoming problematic. It almost seems like there is a new scandal on someone we admire everyday. Celebrities’ behaviors are raising the question: Should I still support this artist?
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“Well, I’ve been listening to them for years.” “This doesn’t affect the music.” The answer is simple. If you are supporting the art, you are supporting the artist. If you would not support another person with that moral standing then why are you supporting them and allowing them to profit from it? By supporting an artist, you are putting your money where their mouth is. Musicians make money off of every stream so by supporting them you are not only supporting their actions, but you are also perpetuating the actions that make them problematic.
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Take an artist like Tekashi69. He is a man who pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct charges with a minor, and is rising to fame. Having millions of followers on Instagram, rising on charts, and being co-signed by bigger artists like Nicki Minaj raises the question of where we must draw the line. We excuse behaviors because songs are catchy, or because videos are funny, but brushing off celebrity behavior, not only dismisses the bigger issue, but also diminishes those affected by it. When people say things like, “Chris Brown did beat Rihanna, but we have to let it go,” you are inheritably saying that abuse is okay as long as the art you produce is good to domestic violence victims.
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We accept that celebrities are just how we are – flawed. But there is a difference between honest mistakes and beliefs that literally hurt us. In a generation where the internet rules and everyone has a voice, we can express our disapproval just as easy as we give instant stardom. We have a duty as consumers to choose who and what gets our support.
Do we want to be a society that values art and fame over morality? We might end up “canceling” everyone, but even if we do, that is okay. We create our culture and we can always create a better, more positive one.