The Culture

Can Beyhive and Swifties Get Voters in Formation for Harris?

It's a belief universally held: If Beyoncé likes you, then you're cool. The same can be said of Taylor Swift. (Listen, I'm just the messenger here, I don't make the rules.) And well, it seems that Beyoncé, her BeyHive, and Swifties like Kamala Harris. So, does that make her cool? And even more importantly, what impact could Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have on Harris' campaign? Let's get into it...

When Kamala Harris made her first appearance as a presidential candidate earlier this week, she walked out to Beyoncé's song "Freedom." The powerful anthem sends two messages: It's a fantastic campaign song, and it aligns Harris with Beyoncé, arguably the most famous woman in the world. Even though Beyoncé has not officially endorsed Harris, she did grant her use of the song "Freedom," effectively offering her support. Harris didn't waste any time taking advantage of this moment. Days later, her campaign released their first official video, and what song was featured? Beyoncé's "Freedom," of course.

Meanwhile over in the Swiftie universe, after President Joe Biden threw his support behind Harris, an X account popped up called @swifties4kamala, and it has since amassed hundreds of thousands of followers. Emerald Medrano, who created the account, tweeted, "I feel like us U.S swifties should mass organize and help campaign for Kamala Harris and spread how horrendous project 2025 would be to help get people's butts down to the polls in November 😭 like if we don't want democracy to end we really need to move and push blue votes."

Since Medrano created the account, he has since been in touch with the Harris campaign. "We do have some initiatives in the works currently: educating people, helping registering them to vote," he told The Cut. "There have been talks with the Harris campaign about possible events and other things coming up that I'm not sure I could say a lot about, but it's really cool and exciting. And there will be so many friendship bracelets!"

So, if Harris has the support of the BeyHive and the Swifties, that must mean she's unstoppable, right? I mean, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are the most famous pop stars in the world, impacting economies when their concerts come to town, that must mean they can impact an election? I'm not so certain.

Their support will definitely benefit the campaign's "cool" factor, and would very much bring out young people to events, but does it bring people out to vote? Beyoncé supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, and we all know how that worked out. But while I don't think it will necessarily be the reason people vote for Harris, I do think it will benefit the campaign's visibility. And in a world dominated by social media, you're nobody if you aren't viral.

Keep scrolling for more entertainment news. I'll see you next week.