Musician Pharrell Williams dismissed celebrity endorsements of presidential candidates, stating he sometimes gets “annoyed” over them.
The famous hip-hop artist and producer was asked about the 2024 presidential election in a recent interview, during which he said he does not “really do politics.” When asked if he would be open to either political party using his music in their campaigns, he detailed that he plans to vote this November but would rather stay out of the way of endorsements.
“In fact, I get annoyed sometimes when I see celebrities trying to tell you,” Williams said. “There are celebrities that I respect that have an opinion, but not all of them. I’m one of them people, ‘What the heck? Shut up. Nobody asked you.’ When people get out there and get self-righteous, and they roll up their sleeves and s***, and they are out there walking around with a placard: ‘Shut up!’”
Prior to the 2020 election between then-candidate Joe Biden and then-President Donald Trump, Williams appeared to praise Biden’s selection of then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) as his vice president, writing “history made @KamalaHarris” on X. Once Biden was declared the winner of the election, Williams wrote that “America showed up and showed out” and thanked Biden and Harris.
History made. @KamalaHarris
— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) August 11, 2020
America showed up and showed out
Thank you President Elect @JoeBiden and Vice President Elect @KamalaHarris and @staceyabrams
Now let our country have no sides, truly be; One Nation Under God, Indivisible With Liberty And Justice For All. pic.twitter.com/3Bt5Jo6FSp— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) November 7, 2020
Williams’s rebuke of celebrity endorsements comes after other celebrities have not explicitly endorsed Harris but have simply encouraged others to vote. Fellow musician icon Elton John, for instance, argued that “it’s none of my business” who people vote for when encouraging people to vote in this election.
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Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is similarly not endorsing any candidate in this election cycle, a reversal from when he endorsed Biden in 2020. Johnson explained he thought endorsing Biden was “the best decision” he could have made with the influence he had but has opted not to offer his endorsement this year.
However, not all celebrities are staying silent. Taylor Swift announced her endorsement of Harris last week. Like Johnson, Swift endorsed Biden in the 2020 election. Pop singer Billie Eilish also announced this week she is backing Harris.
