Getting political can make you loose your fan base

www.foxnews.com...

Comedian Kathy Griffin says she's "permanently" lost one-third of her fanbase over the infamous "beheaded Trump" photo that took the media by storm in 2017, according to The Hill.

"One thing that breaks my heart is why I would say I’ve lost, probably permanently, about a third of my audience because of the Trump thing," she said during an episode of Dan Le Batard’s podcast "South Beach Sessions" that aired last Friday.

She continued, telling the host, "I think I’ve gained some audiences that are maybe a little bit more political, maybe a little bit more liberal, but I used to play the South like crazy because they knew me as somebody that would make fun of Hollywood and the Kardashians and celebrities."

Amazingly enough, it takes fans leaving for these folks to grasp this epiphany. Like Bruce Springsteen, the Boss. He embodied "America" and was wildly popular, until he got political. Now he has lost about half of his fans because of his choices. Now this isn't to say they are wrong, or they aren't entitled to their opinions. They certainly are, and have every right to speak their mind. But conversely, the fans have every right to no longer support them when they place themselves on one side of a very polarizing topic.

If you look at Dolly Parton, you see a good indication of how this should be managed. She is vehemently against sharing her political opinion, because she is well aware of what "taking a side" will do to her fan base. And she would like as many fans as she can get.

I only posted this because it's a theory I have had for a while, and it's nice to see that it's not a crazy thought.

a reply to: network dude

If I were to say that entertainment, starting around cable and cassette tape era, has declined in meritocracy but and increased in programming effectiveness.


Would you agree?

originally posted by: JinMI
a reply to: network dude

If I were to say that entertainment, starting around cable and cassette tape era, has declined in meritocracy but and increased in programming effectiveness.


Would you agree?

Knowing that things have devolved to the point we now view most content in a minute or two segments due to lack of attention span, I'd be nuts not to agree.

I can't watch movies or TV shows in which the actors playing the characters are intensely politically active. It totally distracts me from being able to watch the TV show or movie. DiNero for example. He helped make the best movie ever made ... Godfather II. But I can't watch it anymore. When I see it, all I see is a loudmouthed idiot instead of Don Corleone. Totally ruined the movie for me.

a reply to: JinMI

I would say that that isn't true. There is awesome talent out there and a lot of it. Which btw might not have been discovered without the progress of media as we now know it.

With increased avenues of entertainment, the fluidity of what is considered 'entertainment', it's a given that the bad can ease in along with the good. Unfortunately, they don't have designated entries with controlled figures. It's an open border.

a reply to: StoutBroux

I would say that that isn't true. There is awesome talent out there and a lot of it. Which btw might not have been discovered without the progress of media as we now know it.

I agree that there is awesome talent out there. Great musicians, actors etc.

If you had to point at one or a few to describe your position, who would they be?

With increased avenues of entertainment, the fluidity of what is considered 'entertainment', it's a given that the bad can ease in along with the good. Unfortunately, they don't have designated entries with controlled figures. It's an open border.

It sounds good, right? I mean it passes the smell test and we can see tons of new, tailor made even, entertainment. Yet with algorithmic conditioning and promoting, I'd contend that cuts a massive hole in that position.

a reply to: network dude

Q: What would happen if Kathy Griffin and Robert DeNiro had a baby?

A: Nobody gives a F#%k!

a reply to: network dude

Kathy was funny to me when making fun of celebrities and I even have one of her stand up on DVD. However what happens is with these celebrities is ok Stephen Colbert is a good example. I can't even watch his show because I know especially the monologue is just gonna be the dumbest political I can't even call them jokes. Its like haha let me make fun of somebody I disagree with. It isn't comedy. He especially comes off as an east coast elitist prick while doing it so thats even more annoying.

And even though maybe Kathy's actual comedy is not that political I can't watch her anymore she ruined it because I just associate her with stupid politics. She has become just another limousine liberal to me. It shouldn't be that way. But when these people come out strong on one side it makes me go.....eww.

People want to be entertained when they watch or go to a show. They mostly don't want to be subjected to "haha Republicans are dumb. Trump has bad hair hehehe" or "Biden can't form a sentence hehehahaha Biden doesn't know what year it is hehehehe" we all know this stuff. It's frankly depressing hehe.

a reply to: network dude

I’m going to go out on a limb and say she lost a lot of her audience because she isn’t really a good entertainer (not sure what exactly she ever was).

Although, if you’re a public figure you’re selling your image. And if you decide to engage in issues that people are strong on, you can expect to narrow your scope audience.

Personally, I don’t care what people’s views are (generally) so long as they’re good at their craft. I have coworkers I know I don’t agree with politically, but I know they’re competent and good people, and that’s what matters to me.

As a consumer, there’s a muffler place that’s locally owned that always has Trump signs. They are locally owned and do a lot of fab onsite so it’s way cheaper to go there for mufflers and a lot of other services. One time for state inspection he had to weld a few holes on my muffler that was on a car from up north, and he charged me $20 per patch. He sat down and was all worried because he found another hole but said he’d only charge me for the amount quoted. I slipped him an extra $20 at the end. I’d rather support a local business who is honest and good at their craft than make a political point going to a corporation.

As for actors and such, some of them are champagne liberals who’ve always lived on a silver spoon. Why would I seek political perspective from someone who’s out of touch with reality? But some of them are great actors so it doesn’t bother me if their views are silly.

I think Kathy just sucks and has always been abrasive. Hell, she got drunk and kissed Anderson Cooper one time for NYE on CNN and they basically banned her after that.

a reply to: network dude

I don’t know how it is in America, but in Russia Bruce is still the personification of Freedom in the American way! I love Bruce!

What exactly has Griffin learned?

“I was interrogated under oath,” Griffin said. “They were seriously considering charging me with conspiracy to assassinate the president of the United States. That has never happened in the history of comedy, never.”

She stated being afraid to go outside for a walk, but that now things are different.

“People come up to me now, they’re much nicer and they go, ‘good for you, you were ahead of your time, I get the pun,’” she said. “But, man, I was afraid to walk down the street.”

link

Sounds to me that she still feels what she did is excusable as "comedy" and that she is happy when people tell her that her stunt was "Ahead of its time" ... as if it might not have been acceptable when she did it, but today it is.

a reply to: network dude

Alan Alda Syndome?

Meh, it depends on where people start.

Sometimes, you're entire fanbase is because you're political.

What do you get when you cross Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill?

A left-leaning anthem that epitomizes 2020

But if a country musician does a song with that message, they lose a lot of fanbase too.

Dennis Miller and Jeff Dunham lost fans for being republican. The former lost woman going after Pelosi. The latter lost/gained from both sides going political. The talking Jalapeño can't be republican!

I don't think it is necessarily a left or right thing. If you're left, stay to the left. If your right, stay to the right. And if you perch yourself upon the fence, it's best to never have opinion that might effect that unaffiliated status.

I guess Kathy learned the hard way that actions have consequences. She might even take offense if someone were to hold up an effigy of a severed head of someone she loved.

All too many celebrities seem to think they're more important to the world than they really are and often out themselves with their lunacy.

I wish this was something we could get past.

There are a lot of entertainers who I feel are very skilled at their craft. And I feel that everyone is entitled to their opinions and should be free to express them. I'm pretty sure I can find something in anyone that I can disagree with, but I can still respect their talents and accomplishments.

A great example for me is Barbara Streisand. I'm not a fan of her political opinions, but I still feel she had one of the greatest singing voices ever. Not someone I'd want to have a sit-down conversation with, but her songs stay on my playlists. The same with people like De Niro and Springsteen. I don't know what has happened in their lives to make them feel the way they do, but I can respect what they have achieved in their fields.

I guess in these days of cancel culture, that sort of perspective is becoming less common. I think it's a shame. And if this trend continues, it will be a loss for human artistic endeavors. Someone could paint the next Mona Lisa or Starry Night, but if they express the wrong opinions, no one will ever see it.

originally posted by: RussianTroll
a reply to: network dude

I don’t know how it is in America, but in Russia Bruce is still the personification of Freedom in the American way! I love Bruce!

Unfortunately while Bruce may appear to be "America" as it gets he is much more on the woke liberal side these days and does not represent the working class Americans any longer. Much like many of the celebrity types. I wish they would all just stay out of politics and keep their beliefs to themselves and just make music, make movies or do whatever else it is they do and enjoy the ride. The moment they get political they lose people. I refuse to go out and pay for movies or pay for music from those that want to speak out and tell me how dumb I am for being a conservative. They dont need my money that bad. I will wait till their crap is free or I wont ever see it. That is the only way they will learn. When enough people boycot their products and shows. They just need to stay in their lane. Hell half of them are not all that educated and they have more money than sense. They should not be telling the middle class how they should live.

a reply to: RussianTroll

He's lost his luster for us after making political comments. I think many in the USA would agree he hurt his fame with being so political.

But so have DeNiro, Cher and a few other actors/musicians who promised to leave the country when certain right-leaning things happened.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Let me answer both you and the previous commentator at the same time.
I'm upset, really upset. Perhaps I still live in the romantic 80s.
Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Bruce's activities now; he is still in my romantic imagination. But the situation is changing rapidly. So many stars have gone over to the dark side (from George Clooney to Angelina Jolly) that I'm tired of keeping track.
Bruce was the personification of the American dream. I listened to this album "Born in the USA" on my cassette recorder in the 80s. Alas, degradation ((((

Sorry for the answer in Russian. That's my fault.

a reply to: RussianTroll

I haven't the foggiest clue what that says.

a reply to: TheTardis2

Maybe you're right.
I’m just Russian, and I honestly write about my feelings and my perception of events in the USA and the behavior of stars and former stars. I am a fan of rock music from the 60s and 70s. Mostly British. I have a huge collection of CDs of unique rock recordings, including the complete Woodstock recording and unique recordings of a huge number of rock artists. But for me, all of them, regardless of who they have become now, are the idols of my youth. I told you everything honestly.

a reply to: JinMI

Musicians: too many to count. Swift, Sheeran, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Josh Turner, to name a few. They're self made, intelligent and good music imho.

Directors: Bong Jo Hon, Tyler Perry, David Lietch

Authors: can't say, I haven't made time to read a good book in over 30 years.

Actors: Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lawrence, Sigourney Weaver, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Comedians: Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais

Movie entertainment is a supply and demand commodity. And Hollywood does a job on paving the demand as well as the supply.

Apologize for the delay. Spilled a little bit of life on myself and got distracted.