The Internet Called These Celebrity Moments “Virtue Signaling.” I’m Presenting The Evidence, And You Get To Be The Judge

In January 2025, during nationwide federal immigration enforcement operations resulting in over a thousand detentions, Selena Gomez uploaded a video to her Instagram story. Visibly crying, she expressed distress over the impact on undocumented families.

Following immediate criticism, she removed the story and uploaded a black screen, which was also quickly removed.

On one end of the opinion spectrum, users stopped to remind everyone who the real enemy was. 

Here’s what others had to say:

However, it is worth noting Selena Gomez’s personal lineage. In the 1970s, her aunt crossed the border from Mexico into the United States hidden in the back of a truck, followed by her paternal grandparents, making immigration a core family experience. 

This familial connection inspired her to raise awareness about the issue. She served as the executive producer to the 2019 Netflix documentary series Living Undocumented, a heartbreaking glimpse into the lived reality of eight undocumented families navigating the complex US immigration system.

That same year, Selena also authored a Time magazine essay about undocumented immigration. Establishing herself as anything but a know-it-all politician, she simply spoke from her personal experience — that of a decadeslong immigration story preceding her existence. She urged Americans to approach the issue with empathy and humanity, something her family members were never shown as they fearfully entered the country.

I tend to question people whose first instinct while crying is to record themselves…but she has her personal reasons.

Early this year, in an Elle magazine interview, Billie Eilish spun a simple question into a moral declaration. She was asked, “What’s one hill you’d die on?”

Following the instant backlash, Billie further defended her position, posting videos of slaughterhouses on her Instagram story. She supported the disturbing footage with her own written statement.

Fans were split down the middle, claiming that Billie oversimplified a complex issue. Here’s what they had to say:

In fact, fans were quick to call out Billie’s hypocrisy. 

Taken alongside her dietary comments, Billie’s commercial endorsements and beauty routine videos pose somewhat of a double standard. While she advocates an absolute moral line on animal consumption, she has publicly used, endorsed, or featured cosmetics from brands that reportedly engage in animal testing.

The singer, however, has a strong personal connection to plant-based advocacy. In 2020, her mother, Maggie Baird, founded Support+Feed, a nonprofit organization that addresses food insecurity and climate change by providing plant-based meals to underserved communities.

Billie has repeatedly partnered with the nonprofit organization as part of her concert tours, providing a significant amount of funding for their mission.

Billie has even gone so far as to mandate arenas and participating food vendors to provide dedicated plant-based meal options for her, in addition to her touring crew and staff. 

In the words of Billie herself, can two things coincide?

I’m sure everyone remembers that landmark day in 2017 when Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi ad aired for the first time. 

The ad depicted a multi-ethnic crowd of young citizens marching in a stylized protest, holding up vague signs with non-political slogans like “Love,” “Peace,” and “Join the Conversation.” They stand before a line of stern police officers, the source of much tension.

Kendall, in the middle of a high-fashion photoshoot, catches the eye of a handsome protestor. She impulsively decides to join, wiping off her lipstick, ripping off her wig, and striding into the crowd. In the spirit of a true revolutionary, she decides to dissolve tensions by handing an officer a cold can of Pepsi.

After a single sip, the officer breaks into a smile, and the crowd erupts into wild cheers and high-fives. Save your genie wishes, because world peace just dropped.

Pepsi ended up taking down the ad within 24 hours of its release on YouTube, canceling the campaign rollout entirely. 

So, as you can guess, the backlash had to have been pretty intense.

It even managed to piss off Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter.

Meanwhile, as Pepsi issued an official apology, Kendall remained radio silent for six months. It wasn’t until the Season 14 Premiere of Keeping Up With the Kardashians that she expressed her regret.

Kendall claimed that she was not made aware of the content in the script beforehand, and that she trusted the Pepsi corporate team. She agreed to the opportunity simply because she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her many idols who represented Pepsi in the past. 

Yeah…that’s pretty much it. Kendall has since resumed her high-profile modeling career and steered clear of making strong political remarks. 

Turns out Pepsi isn’t a magical elixir, but you can’t blame a girl for trying to caffeinate her way into world peace.

I often find myself wallowing in pandemic nostalgia, so what better way to commemorate the time than by revisiting my favorite music video ever made.

In March 2020, during the initial days of global lockdowns brought on by the pandemic, actress Gal Gadot released a video featuring various celebrities, each singing verses of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Gal explained that she was inspired by videos of isolated citizens in Italy singing together from their balconies during quarantine.

By now, you’ve probably noticed that regular people don’t exactly love being patted on the head by multimillionaires promising everything is fine. Predictably, as soon as that video started circulating, the internet lost its collective mind.

Music may be a transcendent force, but it unfortunately doesn’t combat the virus or all of its socioeconomic implications.

A couple of years later, Gal Gadot expressed her retrospective regret over the video in an interview with InStyle. Despite the purest of intentions to foster a sense of unity, she admitted that the video was “in poor taste” and “premature.”

Other participants, including Jamie Dornan and Sarah Silverman, later read the room and acknowledged the backlash. Honestly, what did they expect? Do not try to clear a treacherous vocal riff while casually flaunting your mega-mansion.

It’s time for the verdict. Was this an innocent attempt at consoling the public? 

At the 2021 Met Gala (where individual tickets cost upwards of $35,000), US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore a custom white gown designed by Aurora James of Brother Vellies. The back of the gown displayed the slogan “Tax the Rich” written in bold red lettering.

At the Met Gala, AOC explained that, as a working-class woman of color, she felt it was crucial to disrupt the spectacle upheld by elite institutions like the MET. She aimed to “break the fourth wall” by directly challenging the exclusionary values and optics that characterize the event.

While AOC chose the right place to unleash her message, it certainly does feel difficult to separate her from her surroundings. Here’s what the internet had to say:

In a way, everything unfolded like AOC had planned. The stunt did exactly what it was supposed to do, as it forced a massive, nationwide conversation about tax reform. She brought working class demands to an event with a massive platform, earning the public’s eyes. 

Ever since taking office in 2019, AOC has built her platform as a democratic socialist. Her entire legislative identity centers around the redistribution of resources, advocating for reforms that benefit the working class.

Yet, once again, it becomes difficult to separate AOC from her surroundings, especially when she’s photographed in an embrace with the same multimillionaire celebrities that her dress aims to critique.

In June 2020, amidst global protests following the murder of George Floyd, a collection of white Hollywood actors, including Aaron Paul, Sarah Paulson, Julianne Moore, Justin Theroux, and Kesha, featured in a black-and-white PSA titled “I Take Responsibility,” an initiative that partnered with the NAACP. In the video, the actors dramatically pledged personal responsibility for remaining silent in the face of systemic racism.

First off, I must salute these Oscar-worthy deliveries. From furrowed brows, to tortured voices, these were some formidable candidates.

But, as we all know, there’s nothing more controversial than a virtuous celebrity montage made in 2020.

My personal favorite is Aaron Paul’s feature. It’s as if he channeled Jesse Pinkman after so many years.

Amidst the fervent backlash, the project was scrapped, and the official campaign website, itakeresponsibility.org, was taken offline. The participating celebrities resorted to the age-old ghosting method, treating the video as if it never existed. They deleted their promotional posts and disabled public comments to block critics.

Individually, however, some participants were actively raising awareness about systemic injustices.

Pushing the spotlight away from her own film, The Help, Bryce Dallas Howard shared a list of films allowing users to educate themselves about Black injustice. Similarly, Debra Messing shared a list of books people could read to learn more about anti-racism, and she participated in #ShareTheMicNow, a social media initiative that debunked the ever-present white savior trope.

Users believed the video to be a self-indulgent performance devoid of substance. It turns out you can take the actor out of the theater, but you can’t take the theater out of the actor.

Once upon a time, around five eras ago, there existed a Taylor “Ally”son Swift. She had dyed her hair tips pink, sported rainbow tie-dye, and dedicated an entire song called “You Need to Calm Down” to shutting down homophobia and other hateful rhetoric.

Outside of her music, Taylor became heavily involved in advocacy during this time. Audiences got to witness her immersion into politics much later in the 2020 documentary Miss Americana, where she tearfully vowed to fight right-wing bigotry.

One of her milestone moments occurred in April 2019, when she publicly donated $113,000 to the Tennessee Equality Project to legally combat a series of anti-LGBTQ+ state bills.

And, two months later, during the rollout of her single “You Need to Calm Down,” she launched a massive Change.org petition for the federal Equality Act, which garnered over 500,000 signatures. 

She even authored an open letter to Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, urging him to support the legislation.

Taylor also launched a series of incursions against the White House, most notably during her 2019 VMA Video of the Year acceptance speech. There, she called out the administration for ignoring her Equality Act petition, noting it had garnered “five times the amount [of signatures] that it would need to warrant a response.”

In May 2020, a year later, she remained unmoved in her convictions, calling out the president once again.

So, why in the world would Taylor ever surround herself with Trump supporters? That was the exact question most users had as Taylor had ushered in a new era of her romantic life.

In October 2023, Taylor Swift began occupying a special box at her boyfriend’s games, seated among fellow Kansas City Chiefs WAGs. She was frequently spotted next to Brittany Mahomes, wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

By the next Chiefs game, the pair had developed a profound symbol of their friendship.

It was just the beginning.

They had even vacationed in Europe together, alongside their beaus. 

But, here’s where things get tricky. In August 2024, Brittany Mahomes liked an Instagram post outlining Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign platform, which included plans to cut federal funding for schools acknowledging transgender youth, and so many others that constituted right-wing bigotry.

She continued to align herself with Trump’s platform, liking comments that cheered on the president. 

And, despite the roaring backlash, her political loyalties remained unshaken.

Despite their stark divergence in political values, Taylor and Brittany remained gal pals, joyfully embracing at the US Open just weeks later.

The visual went viral. Here’s what Swifties had to say about the situation:

In June 2025, at Travis Kelce’s Tight End University event in Nashville, she was pictured alongside Bussin’ With the Boys podcasters Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. The podcast hosts, who previously interviewed Trump and are vocal MAGA supporters, shared the image online with the caption: “Confirmed: Taylor Swift is FOR THE BOYS.”

Remember? The same state of Tennessee that Taylor desperately defended against right-wing bigotry all those years ago.

That’s not to say that Taylor hasn’t spoken out at all. Two days after the Brittany Mahomes controversy at the US Open, she publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election. But, aside from this gesture, she has visibly dialed down her political activism.

As the Trump administration continues to repeal human rights and spread hateful rhetoric, some fans feel that Taylor’s questionable associations and lack of criticism are a blow to her years of impactful philanthropy and advocacy.

The power went out at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards when several prominent female actresses ignited a fashion blackout to denounce sexual harassment and gender inequality as part of the Time’s Up initiative.

Just three months prior, explosive allegations emerged against Hollywood overlord Harvey Weinstein, sparking the revolutionary #MeToo movement.

In response to the crisis, a coalition of more than 300 prominent women in Hollywood, including those pictured above, secretly met to channel the immense public rage into legal reforms and protections, constructing the Time’s Up initiative. 

During these secret meetings, the coalition conceived the idea of a total fashion blackout for the 2018 Golden Globe Awards, the introductory entertainment event of the year. The intent was to divert the focus from high-fashion vanity to a visual, unified protest against industry abuse.

A month before the ceremony, international media outlets leaked the dress code. Rose McGowan, one of the earliest and most vocal Weinstein survivors, took to Twitter to fiercely condemn the plan.

Rose specifically called out Meryl Streep for her alleged, long-standing ignorance and silence. Meryl Streep had previously worked with Harvey Weinstein on two feature films, including 2011’s The Iron Lady in which she played Margaret Thatcher.

Meryl went on to call the man a “God” in her victory speech at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards.

In response to Rose McGowan’s indictment, Meryl clarified that she knew nothing of Harvey Weinstein’s crimes for as long as she worked in the industry. 

Meryl was just one of countless tenured stars in black costume who had worked with the disgraced producer.

Rose McGowan alleged that Hollywood elites operated within a deliberate “complicity machine” that actively shielded Harvey Weinstein, famously tweeting that “anyone who does business with [him] is complicit.” Yet, most of these veterans claimed they never knew about Harvey Weinstein’s crimes during their decades in the industry, even while working near his omnipotent distribution company.

CNN’s Jake Tapper corroborated her statement with the words of an acquaintance.

Regardless, the award ceremony unfolded with an abundance of key moments. Natalie Portman delivered a sharp critique of the male-dominated field while presenting the Best Director award, pointedly announcing, “And here are the all-male nominees.”

Emma Stone arrived alongside tennis legend Billie Jean King, one of the many actor-activist pairings of the night. Billie Jean King notably fought for gender pay equity, leading the historic “Battle of the Sexes” match.

And, perhaps the defining moment of the night, Oprah Winfrey gave a powerful speech upon receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Overall, the ceremony was met with a mixed public reception. Here’s what people had to say about dress code solidarity.

Hollywood has experienced a cultural shift thanks to the brave women who propelled the MeToo movement, and whether through a fashion blackout or an on-stage remark, these visible moments contribute to the broader cause. Yet, when people have allegedly known about misconduct for decades and choose to denounce it only when it is culturally safe, their actions raise questions.

It was a long time coming, but man, did it feel good to watch. In 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio rose to accept his very first Oscar award despite having already led a long, storied career.

It was toward the end of his speech when he pivoted toward something important.

He went on to emphasize the importance of electing leaders who support the environment, earning a smile from Vice President Joe Biden, who was seated in the crowd. 

In fact, Leonardo DiCaprio has been long affiliated with the cause. In 2014, the United Nations designated him a UN Messenger of Peace for climate change, elevating his status to a leading global voice for environmental policy.

With great power comes great responsibility (and deep pockets). During his speech at the UN Climate Summit, he publicly announced a $3 million direct grant from his foundation to Oceana to stop global overfishing.

But every human being has a vice. His, alas, is living the aggressively indulgent lifestyle typical of an actor of his stature.

Just months before the UN Climate Summit, Leonardo flew via private jet to Brazil to attend the FIFA World Cup. For his accommodations, he resided aboard the Topaz, a luxury superyacht equipped with two helipads and a swimming pool. The vessel was owned by United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a major oil tycoon (aka Mr. Fossil Fuels).

And, his luxurious habits stirred quite the controversy in May 2016, just two months after his thought-provoking Oscars speech. While attending the Cannes Film Festival, Leonardo boarded a private luxury jet and flew 4,000 miles to New York City. He arrived to accept an environmental award at the Riverkeeper Fisherman’s Ball.

Within 24 hours of landing in New York City, he boarded a second private jet to fly 4,000 miles directly back to France to attend an amFAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research) charity gala in Antibes.

This 8,000-mile round-trip private aviation sprint sparked massive media backlash. His representatives claimed that he didn’t charter the plane himself, but merely “hitched a ride” on a flight already scheduled to move.

And so began a vicious cycle. 

In September 2017, Leonardo DiCaprio spoke at the Yale Climate Conference and announced $20 million in new environmental grants for over 100 organizations via the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, pushing his lifetime financial impact past $80 million.

Yet, despite his financial redemption, public debate was instantly reignited. In late 2021, paparazzi snapped photos of him celebrating New Year’s Eve in St. Barts aboard the Vava II, yet another luxury superyacht. This one cost an estimated $300,000 just to fill the tank.

The internet seemed pretty fed up by this point…

Sensing a pattern? Stay tuned for the next mega mobile expedition…

The Hollywood legend has dedicated his entire platform to the planet. I mean, he’s practically been immortalized by a Lil Dicky music video.

However, his lavish lifestyle seems to undermine his eco-friendly crusade. I can’t help but wonder if Jay Gatsby and Jordan Belfort have taken full custody of his body.