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EDITORIAL: Line
between celebrity and politics
Celebrities in Taiwan have become a regular fixture in social movements and more
outspoken about a variety of issues. Their increasing participation in public
affairs has attracted discussions about their legitimacy to speak about social
and political issues, and sparked concerns about the motivations behind their
involvement.
One recent controversy is the case of a 20-year-old star named Cheng Chia-chen
(鄭佳甄), whose open criticism of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration,
and the political strife between Ma and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平)
has raised eyebrows.
Known better as Chicken Cutlet Girl (雞排妹), Cheng became famous for her
appearance in a fried chicken commercial. While promoting her image as an
innocent, and yet sexy girl, she often expresses concerns about the impasse on
Facebook, slamming Ma for “getting out of control” during his second term and
posting a picture of her wearing the message: “The government is forcing
citizens to revolt.”
Her enthusiasm for anti-Ma rallies and comments on social issues including the
incident in Dapu Borough (大埔), Miaoli County, increased her media exposure and
saw her invited to appear on political shows. However, there has also been a lot
of criticism and mockery. Some call her a girl with large breasts and low
intelligence who seeks to gain fame by jumping on the latest political
bandwagon.
A seasoned TV show host further urged her to shift focus because “you are in the
entertainment industry, not in politics.”
Such discouraging comments highlight a discrimination against celebrity
involvement in public affairs, and an assumption that women lack an
understanding of political and social issues.
Disputes over whether Cheng or other celebrities should use their influence in
social movements or politics will not change the fact that the distinction
between show business and politics is disappearing.
Rock band Mayday (五月天), for example, has openly voiced their opposition to the
government’s plan to continue the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant
in Gongliao District (貢寮), New Taipei City (新北市) . In their latest music video,
the band inserted photos and clips referring to political issues such as the
wiretapping scandal, monopoly of the media and the forced demolition of homes in
Dapu. The video attracted more than 3 million hits on YouTube within two weeks
of its release.
Many more celebrities have appeared at rallies against the government. Singer
and songwriter Deserts Chang (張懸), indie band Sodagreen (蘇打綠), and filmmakers
Hsiao Yeh (小野) and Leon Dai (戴立忍) have all voiced their opposition to the
government and used their fame to raise public awareness of important issues.
The stars have come out with the rise of social movements that have developed
this year, such as the anti-nuclear campaign, the opposition to the Dapu
demolitions and the demonstrations in response to the death of army corporal
Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘).
These social movements have raised public awareness and encouraged deeper
participation in issues they care about. All of this was done without the
sponsorship or leadership of politicians.
As recent social movements suggest, politics is everyone’s business, and
everyone is entitled to voice their opinions, even celebrities.
The nation is moving from stale, traditional rallies launched by political
parties to modern, social movements that attract citizens’ participation. In
this new era, the public should be more encouraging and tolerant of celebrities
who lend their support.
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