You Have a Platform, Babe (what are you going to do with it?)

What responsibility comes with having a platform?

That’s the question I keep coming back to when I look at celebrities and the way they respond—or don’t respond—to everything happening in the world right now.

In this episode of Open Tabs, I’m talking about celebrities, political silence, Gaza, Palestine, and whether having millions of people listen to you means you have a responsibility to speak up. We talk about celebrities who have taken a clear stance, celebrities who haven’t said anything, and the difference between staying silent, quietly donating, and publicly using your platform to raise awareness.

I also get into the complicated part of this conversation: what if speaking out puts you—or your family—in danger? What if you’re worried that your statement will become the story instead of the people you’re trying to help? And what do we do with celebrities like Taylor Swift, who have enormous platforms but haven't made a public statement?

I don’t have a perfect answer. Honestly, that’s why I’m asking. Do celebrities have a responsibility to speak out on political issues simply because they have the reach to do it? Or is there more than one way to use your platform for good?

And if you’re not a celebrity? I talk about that too, because there are still small things we can do. Sometimes we start with sharing, reposting, donating, listening, or simply paying attention.