Hollywood's once-significant influence in national politics appears to be shrinking, as Democratic campaigns increasingly opt for less visible engagement with celebrity donors and activists. This shift is particularly evident following the recent midterm elections, where prominent A-list celebrities were largely absent from major battleground states.
Fundraising events featuring political figures have become more discreet. Senator Jon Ossoff's recent campaign stops in Los Angeles, for instance, included requests for attendees not to post photos on social media and for local media to downplay his presence. This contrasts sharply with past decades, such as in 2012, when George Clooney's $40,000-per-plate fundraiser for Barack Obama garnered extensive media coverage.
The diminished role is partly attributed to the perception of Hollywood as out of touch with average Americans, a narrative amplified by Republicans. Furthermore, Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race in July, due to concerns about his mental acuity, left many in the industry feeling disillusioned. Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former Disney and Dreamworks executive and a co-chair of Biden's campaign, was central to these efforts, and his involvement, coupled with the campaign's ultimate failure, led some donors to reconsider their political contributions.
"It was a repudiation of Hollywood," a political consultant based in Los Angeles told Page Six, noting the absence of A-list celebrities or major donors actively campaigning. "It’s not the death of celebrity activism, but the Democrats learned a lesson over the last several years: Hollywood is not the end-all-be-all."
While celebrity activism is not entirely gone, the strategy has evolved. Campaigns now seem to favor more organic engagement over the large-scale, highly publicized events of the past. The industry's perception of its own political importance has also been recalibrated, moving away from the era of powerful figures like Lew Wasserman and Jeffrey Katzenberg orchestrating campaigns. This adjustment reflects a broader understanding within Hollywood that its direct impact on electoral outcomes may not be as substantial as it once was.