Election season is here and there are a lot of political statements being made.
From repulsive terms made by Republicans like “legitimate rape,” to cringe-worthy declarations like “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” Washington, DC isn’t the only place where people care about politics.
Most celebrities aren’t too active in the political stratosphere, but recently, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar revealed he doesn’t “believe” in voting.
Kendrick isn’t the first rapper to lack faith in our voting system, and he probably won’t be the last.
In 2010, Kendrick Lamar’s new gal pal Lady Gaga decided to make a political statement against the Bill Clinton-introduced “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gay marriage.
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President Barack Obama has since abolished the policy, but Lady Gaga made a grandiose statement when she showed up on the MTV VMA red carpet with servicemen and women who alleged they were discharged from the military for being gay.
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Take a look at other celebrities who have made grandiose political statements below!
Lupe Fiasco: “To me, the biggest terrorist is Obama in the United States of America. For me, I’m trying to fight the terrorism that’s actually causing the other forms of terrorism. The root cause of the terrorism is the stuff that you as a government allow to happen and the foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists.”
Kanye West: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
Adam Yauch: “The United States has to start respecting people from the Middle East in order to find a solution to the problem that’s been building up over many years.”
Kendrick Lamar: “My vote counts? I don’t do no voting. I will keep it straight up real with you. I don’t believe in none of the sh*t that’s going on in the world,” said Kendrick. “You talk with me, you talk with me for hours because everything has a contradiction, everything is higher ranking and way beyond us, way beyond people.
So basically, do what you do, do good with your people and live your life because what’s going on isn’t really in our hands. When I say the president can’t even control the world, then you definitely know there’s something else out there pushing the buttons. They could do whatever they want to do, we all puppets. Just play your cards right.”
Madonna: During a concert in 2008, Madonna compared Republican presidential candidate John McCain to Adolf Hitler in a picture montage and compared Barack Obama to Gandhi. Clearly, she voted for President Barack Obama.
Bono: “Eight million people die every year for the price of going out with your friends to the movies and buying an ice cream.”
Nas: Nas showed up to the Grammy Awards red carpet with a t-shirt that read “Nigger.” Obviously, the racial epithet didn’t sit well with black and white people, but Nas held his ground stating he wanted to make a grandiose political statement. The outrage ended up getting Nas’ label a call from Congress and eventually forced Nas to leave his album Untitled.
Fiona Apple: During her speech at the 1997 MTV VMAs, Fiona Apple didn’t prepare an acceptance speech, but she did have this to say, “Everybody out there who is watching this world — this world is bullsh*t!”
Mos Def: Rapper/activist Mos Def was arrested outside of Radio City Music Hall after he refused to stop performing his response, “Katrina Clap,” to the outcry and injustice of Hurricane Katrina victims.
