A look at the #Blockout movement
Each year, the Met Gala highlights the convergence of Hollywood and the fashion industry, with stars like Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim Kardashian showcasing extravagant red carpet looks. However, this year’s event faced backlash from pro-Palestinian protesters outside, urging attendees to recognize Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Following the event, a growing number of people have taken their protests online, with activists suggesting this could affect celebrities’ and influencers’ earnings from social media.
Why are people upset with the Met Gala attendees?
While many praised the fashion, social media users criticized the Met Gala for its display of wealth amid the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict.
This led to a digital campaign where users began blocking celebrities on social media to cut off their income from ad revenue. (click below to watch)
“The Met Gala served as a catalyst that drew significant attention,” said Marcus Collins, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan, to NPR. “Celebrity boycotts were not prominent until the Met Gala occurred amidst the Gaza attacks, sparking widespread discussion and action.”
What is #Blockout2024?
After the Met Gala, TikToker @BlockOut2024 posted a video urging users to block celebrities on social media as a protest against their silence on the Gaza crisis. He mentioned blocking Kim Kardashian back in December 2023.
The campaign quickly gained traction, with users sharing videos of the celebrities they were blocking using hashtags like #blockout, #digitine, and #celebrityblock. Other users also launched similar digital campaigns.
What is the connection to Marie Antoinette?
TikToker Haley Kalil, with 9.9 million followers, posted a video before the Met Gala using the phrase “Let them eat cake” from the 2006 movie “Marie Antoinette.” Although the real Marie Antoinette likely never said this, she became a symbol of disconnect from the public’s struggles and was ultimately executed during the French Revolution.
Kalil’s video inspired the term “digitine,” or digital guillotine, coined by TikToker @LadyFromTheOutside. She called for blocking celebrities and influencers who fail to use their resources to aid those in need. Her video garnered over 500,000 likes and numerous supportive comments.
(click below to watch)
Who is being blocked?
Social media users are blocking various celebrities, including Harry Styles, Jojo Siwa, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart, Shakira, Kylie Jenner, and Taylor Swift. The list of targeted stars is frequently updated.
What impact has this unfollowing had on celebrities?
So far, the tangible effects remain unclear. However, #Blockout2024 claims that celebrities are losing significant numbers of followers. Theoretically, the decrease in followers and engagement could impact celebrities’ and influencers’ earnings from their online content.
Leave a Reply