Mixing entertainment with politics is a bad idea 

It is that time of the year again. A hot-button issue is dominating politics, and entertainment pundits don’t know what to do.

Politics is a strange animal because it brings out the worst in people. Seriously, look at the comments of any popular YouTube channel or blog today. Most are consumed by screaming matches about the Israel/Hamas war.

The topic has invaded even corners of the entertainment arena that usually steer clear of politics. The same thing happened during the early days of the Russia/Ukraine war. The pandemic was probably the most polarizing because it affected everyone, whereas the Hamas/Israel conflict is restricted to a tiny corner of the world.

These controversies place entertainment pundits in a difficult position. On the one hand, a section of the public usually attacks them for indulging in frivolous conversations during a time of great strife. How can IGN publish gaming reviews when a dozen seven-year-olds just died in a mass shooting?

How can ComicbookResources gush about the latest MCU casting news when a flood just killed thousands in Libya?

This is where accusations of callousness typically arise. People think Hollywood celebrities and those who fawn over them live in a bubble. But those accusations are rarely as loud as the ones lambasting Hollywood for refusing to discuss these hot-button political issues. Sure, you can count on them to offer their thoughts and prayers when a fire burns a town to the ground.

But when complex situations such as the Hamas/ Israel War arise, you won’t hear a peep out of them. People are quick to accuse them of cowardice because taking a stance means alienating those portions of their audience with opposing views.

Although, I don’t necessarily fault the entertainment bloggers in question for applying caution. Keep in mind that internet traffic is their lifeblood. They make money through ads and sponsorships. Why would they take a stance on the Israel/Hamas War, knowing full well that doing so would potentially wreck their business?

And the individuals demanding political commentary from them won’t lift a finger to help them if their online endeavors collapse. It is easy to make demands when your livelihood is not on the line. More importantly, I don’t think you are right to ask for political commentary from your favourite entertainment publication.

Why would you care about IGN’s opinion on the Isreal/Hamas war? They are not a political site. Why do you want them to dip their toes into fields that don’t concern them? You could argue that any individual with a sizable platform is obligated to use it for good.

And that is somewhat true. If you can turn your millions of followers into a force for good during a crisis, go ahead. However, try to remember that a fire gutting towns in Hawaii differs significantly from a centuries-old war in the Middle East.

The people who bring you entertainment news know next to nothing about complex political topics. It would be irresponsible for them to poison their audiences with the half-baked information you see online today. Most of the people arguing about these issues on the internet don’t know enough to offer an objective opinion.

And they can get away with spreading their questionable viewpoint because they don’t have platforms. Giant entertainment publications would wreak havoc on society if they replicated that habit because, again, most of them are as ignorant about these issues as their audience.

But even if they hire knowledgeable political commentators, we don’t visit entertainment publications and platforms to listen to politics. We are looking for an escape from the doom and gloom broadcasting from every news organization.

The last thing I want is for my favourite entertainment blogger or YouTuber to tell me what they think about the Israel/Hamas war. If they want to branch into politics, let them open a separate politics-centered platform.

katmic200@gmail.com