News headlines are constantly filled with two things: celebrities and politics. As the 2016 election draws nearer, the two topics together are becoming increasingly more relevant. Everyone has a favorite celebrity whom they idolize, but, sometimes, when a celebrity reveals their political affiliation, their fans will embrace them or think, “Wow, really?” Celebrities’ affiliations span the entire political spectrum, and some party affiliations may be surprising.
Britney Spears-Republican
Pop icon Britney Spears is a registered Republican and was known for supporting former President George Bush. Concerning Bush’s decisions with the war in Iraq, Spears reportedly said in a 2003 interview with CNN, “I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes, and we should just support that.” In the past, Spears has also let Republican representatives hold fundraisers during her concerts, such as her Washington D.C. concert in 2009, according to E! Online.
Clint Eastwood-Libertarian
Actor and director Clint Eastwood is no stranger to politics. According to the BBC, Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, California, by a landslide. Eastwood was formerly a registered Republican and typically supports conservative ideals concerning the economy, but he is much more liberal on environmental and social issues, according to a 2004 interview with USA Weekend. In 2009, Eastwood officially registered as a Libertarian, according to an interview with The Guardian. He told USA Weekend, “I like the libertarian view, which is to leave everyone alone,” describing his switch to the Libertarian party.
50 Cent-Independent
50 Cent, the American rap superstar, has a background of supporting Republican candidates and ideals but has lost an interest in politics and now identifies as an Independent, according to Us Weekly. In a 2005 GQ interview, 50 Cent described George Bush as someone he looks up to. He has since changed his perception of President Bush and reportedly supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential race, according to CNN. He told the Daily Beast, “It’s Hillary time.”
Leonardo DiCaprio-Democrat
Although Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t have a major interest the economical aspect of politics, DiCaprio’s Democratic views stem from his passion for environmental issues, according Us Weekly. According to opensecrets.org, DiCaprio has donated over $82,000 to Democratic political campaigns since 2004. DiCaprio donated the bulk of that money to the campaigns of Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Convention Service Corp.
Ben Affleck-Democrat
Ben Affleck is a big name in Hollywood and a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party. Affleck is a registered Democrat and has worked on the campaigns of Al Gore, Kerry Edwards and Barrack Obama, according to the Huffington Post. According to CNN, Affleck used his liberal ideals to help promote his humanitarian efforts in the Republic of Congo in 2010.
Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson-Republican
Dwayne Johnson, known for his professional wrestling and acting careers, is a registered Republican. According to the Huffington Post, Johnson was invited to attend and speak at the 2009 Republican National Convention. Recently, Johnson has been distancing himself from politics and has demanded that his image be removed from Chris Christie’s campaign video, according to TMZ.
As the election season continues, celebrities will continue to make their political views known and use their fame to influence the promotion of their favorite candidates. Celebrities are everywhere in politics, from Republican to Democrat and everything in between.
