There is no doubt that everyone is experiencing different things throughout this global pandemic. For some, business is booming due to the economy shutting down non essential businesses, but for many others, these are agonizing times.
For celebrities, however, this time can be taken to relax in the pool or enjoy an afternoon doing yoga. They have the luxury of peace of mind, knowing they are financially stable and in no fear of losing their livelihoods.
Unlike wealthy celebrities, many average Americans are suffering during this time. The unemployment rate has spiked since January, and many celebrities have taken it upon themselves to help out people in need.
Celebrities such as Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, Oprah Winfrey, Dolly Parton, Black Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Jay-Z, Meek Mill and Kylie Jenner opted to donate millions of dollars to organizations like Feeding America, America’s Food Fund, Proyecto Pastoral and many more to help support hospitals and families in need. They’re supporting hospitals and families in need. On top of that, Dolly Parton also donated $1 million to finding a vaccine for the virus.
Many celebrities are donating to help feed children who would normally be relying on free school lunches. Stephen and Ayesha Curry launched an online fundraiser called Feeding America and managed to raise over $160,000 for these families in need. Leonardo Dicaprio and Lauren Powell Jobs helped raise over $12 million by launching America’s Food Fund to help out low income families, the elderly and households that rely on free school lunches as well.
Senior Emma Curtis spoke about the help being provided by wealthy celebrities. “I feel like celebrities have been helping out with everything that has been going on,” she said.
Famous singers Lady Gaga, Halsey and Selena Gomez donated to local hospitals. Gaga worked with the Global Citizen Organization and helped raise over $35 million to buy protective equipment for hospitals and healthcare workers in desperate need. In addition, Halsey bought 100,000 masks to give to hospitals and Selena Gomez donated to her local hospital. Gomez is also using the promotion of her new album to raise funds by giving the proceeds of her merchandise to relief programs.
Senior Hannah Anderson spoke about the platforms that famous singers, actors and influencers possess. “I think they’re helping encourage people to stay home because they’re willing to listen to people that they look up to,” she stated.
Anderson was correct in the hypothesizing of the power of platforms. Kylie Jenner, with her 171 million followers on Instagram, had the ability to notify her fans to “take social distancing seriously”. Jenner, however, did not take her own advice as she met up with people she was not quarantining with days later.
Other Instagram icons also used their voices and platforms to discuss their thoughts on this topic. Vanessa Hudgens went live on Instagram to show her distress about Coachella being cancelled, stating that “even if everyone gets it, like yeah, people are going to die, which is terrible … but inevitable?”
A more positive reaction to the virus was made by Selena Gomez who encourages her 174 million Instagram followers to donate daily. Other influencers are also using their platforms in a positive way to encourage fans to donate or reach out for help if they need it.
Every single person is suffering from this pandemic, but some people have it much worse than others; those who are personally suffering from the virus or have family members who are, low income families that are now out of work, families with children who relied on free school lunches, healthcare workers who risk their lives to save others everyday, people suffering from mental illness who are not coping well, essential workers and many others. Support and kindness from everyone is what’s needed the most in trying times like this.
