Vice President Kamala Harris received several well-known celebrity endorsements in the months preceding the election. Harris joined rapper Megan Thee Stallion during a demonstration in Atlanta in July.
What it’s going to do is elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.
stated television star Oprah Winfrey during her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, endorsing Harris for the presidency.
Rappers Lizzo and Eminem spoke at vice presidential rallies in Detroit in October. At a protest in Houston later that month, singer-songwriter Beyoncé supported Harris.
Investigating claims of paid celebrity endorsements
Without any supporting data, social media users have asserted that these celebrities received total compensation of about $20 million for their endorsements. A Harris campaign spokesperson stated that the baseless allegation that Beyoncé received $10 million “is not true,” as reported. Posts now assert that others have received millions of dollars. An Instagram post on November 12 included a Fox News clip in which anchor Harris Faulkner stated that Beyoncé received $10 million, Megan Thee Stallion received $5 million, Lizzo received $3 million, and Eminem received $1.8 million for her support from the Harris campaign. The user stated in a caption that Oprah was paid $1 million for her endorsement.
Is it typical practice to spend $20 million and incur debt to get many Italian celebrities to perform?
Faulkner poses the question in the video about a Democratic National Committee member’s assertion that the Harris campaign had $20 million in debt at the end of this election cycle.
The role of celebrities in political campaigns
Records from the Federal Election Commission for the Harris campaign are only accessible until October 16 and indicate no outstanding obligations. Some debt has been accumulated, according to unnamed sources close to the campaign who spoke to NBC News.
It gave $1 billion to the Kamala campaign, and a few days later they asked for more money because they ended up with $20 million in debt paying for celebrity endorsements.
said former professional basketball player Rod Benson, who shared the claim on Threads. Benson added,
They paid Oprah $1M to endorse the campaign in a different post. Similar or identical numbers are shared by other individuals. The list of names reads like the who’s who of A-level celebrities who are set to walk the red carpet or go to the renowned post-Oscar party hosted by Vanity Fair. Bruce Springsteen, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Megan Thee Stallion, among many more. These are just a few of the well-known figures who supported Kamala Harris’s unsuccessful bid for the presidency, making it one of the most prestigious political campaigns in American history. Even singer Taylor Swift, the biggest celebrity in the world right now, supported Harris.
| Category | Detail |
| Issue | Claims that celebrities are compensated by the Harris campaign for endorsements. |
| Current Findings | These assertions have not been substantiated by any evidence. |
| Celebrity Involvement | Although they are made public, well-known endorsements are said to be voluntary. |
| Campaign Finance Records | According to FEC filings, the Harris campaign did not pay any celebrities. |
| Legal Requirements | According to FEC rules, endorsement payments have to be declared; yet, none are. |
| Official Statements | The Harris campaign claims that celebrity endorsements are voluntary and denies paying for them. |
| Media Investigation | Journalists and fact-checkers could find no reliable evidence to back up the claims. |
| Origin of Claims | Unverified social media posts and politicized comments gave rise to claims. |
Harris campaign’s official response to allegations
Any sponsored endorsements must be openly disclosed by political campaigns. As of October 16, the Harris campaign’s FEC financial records only include one endorsement-related expense, for $75. In June 2023, while President Joe Biden was still seeking reelection, it was sent to the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, a political action organization that supports the environment. On October 15, the Harris campaign did pay Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions Inc., a total of $1 million for “event production.” In an Instagram comment, Winfrey claimed that she was “not paid a dime” and that the money was used to cover the cost of the production of her September interview with Harris. There is no proof that Harris’ campaign paid anything to Lizzo, Beyoncé, Eminem, Megan Thee Stallion, or their production businesses. It has not heard back from the Harris campaign about these allegations on the endorsements. In the weeks before and after the election, there have been rumors of paid celebrity endorsements. Rapper Cardi B wrote,
“I didn’t get paid a dollar,”
in response to the allegation that she received payment for endorsing Harris on X on November 14.
