The Marvel’s Avengers’ star-studded cast is coming together to support Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential elections, which CNN recently referred to as a “near-even” race.
Scarlett Johansson initiates a video call with Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Chris Evans, Danai Gurira, Paul Bettany, and Robert Downey Jr. in a brief video that was shared on his Instagram account.
Additionally, Ruffalo posted it to his X (previously known as Twitter) account, stating, “Don’t sit this one out.” It’s the one that will cost us a lot: Climate change, women’s reproductive rights, Project 2025, LGBTQIA+ rights, public education, the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, and, as of right now, vaccines that save lives. This s**t exists, and it will target you.
While Ruffalo tries to get them to talk about voting, the Avengers spend some time trying to come up with a catchphrase for Harris in the video. Ruffalo tries to convince the cast that the line “down with democracy” is not meant to be used for anything. In the background, a heroic score plays, and each celebrity reads out the newly minted phrase in a dramatic way.
The video, which is short, sweet, and funny, joins the growing list of Hollywood celebrities who are publicly supporting Harris for the presidency. Prior to this, pop royalty Taylor Swift and Beyonce, as well as the legendary Oprah Winfrey, expressed their support, with the singer of “Single Ladies” attending and speaking at a rally.
The Guardian reports that Madonna, Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, LeBron James, and the former Republican governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, have all expressed their support for Harris in the preceding week alone.
However, what difference does an endorsement from a celebrity make?
According to a 2008 report from Northwestern University, Winfrey’s endorsement increased Barack Obama’s vote total by one million. However, according to a 2010 report from North Carolina State University, celebrity endorsements by George Clooney and Angelina Jolie did not significantly influence political outcomes.
Ashley Spillane wrote in a review distributed last month by Harvard’s Kennedy School that non-benefits found “higher paces of online elector enrollment or survey laborer recruits when a superstar elevates these invitations to take action.”
Spillane stated, “While some polls show that people claim not to be influenced by celebrity voices when it comes to politics, more rigorous evidence indicates that these voices are incredibly powerful.”
