GP Taylor: Stars risk infamy if they don't stop talking politics

It seems to be that being nominated for an Oscar, or Golden Globe, suddenly gives you the ability to comprehend the subtle nuances of economic and social policy of whatever country you are in at the time. They have a right to an opinion, but not the right to shove it down my throat.

What they often say is the same regurgitated “luvvie left” jargon that has no use in the real world.

The most outrageous of all was when the great god Bono said that the best way to fight Isis was to send in the comedians. Yes, comedians. The secret weapon that every country has been looking for to combat terrorism is the comedy character Borat. Bono, real name Paul Hewson, was addressing a Senate committee at the time. The U2 frontman said: “Don’t laugh. I think comedy should be deployed. It’s like, you speak violence, you speak their language. But you laugh at them, when they’re goose-stepping down the street, and it takes away their power. So, I’m suggesting that the Senate send in Amy Schumer and Chris Rock and Sacha Baron Cohen, thank you.”

Like me, you may have just dropped your coffee laughing. When I read that I thought it was a joke, but there is a video of the event on the internet for anyone to watch and be left amazed by.

I think it is totally corrupt for anyone in the public eye to try to influence others solely because they are celebrities. What gives them the right to think so and why do they so arrogantly believe we should respond to what they are saying?

Just because someone can act or sing doesn’t mean they are going to have our best interests at heart.

It cannot be denied that Meryl Streep is an amazing actress. Her recent acceptance speech for a Golden Globe was a six-minute tirade against Donald Trump. She trotted out all the usual stuff about the new president, but neglected to tell the audience that she was an ardent Clinton supporter. To me, that invalidated everything she said. It was just the ranting of a political opponent upset because her side lost.

Celebrities really hate to lose. When they do, they whinge and moan more than anyone. It was hysterical to read the likes of JK Rowling, James Corden and Gary Lineker whining about Brexit.

It was as if they thought that we, the “little people”, had got it totally wrong and shouldn’t have been allowed to vote in the first place. Seemingly many celebrities have scant regard for democracy. However, not even the magic of Harry Potter is strong enough to overturn the democratic rights of the ordinary people.

Just because they have a few million followers on Twitter doesn’t give celebrities the right to tell us how wrong we are. When actors and singers start to tell the people what to think, and how to vote, they are themselves becoming part of the establishment that people are sick of.

In reality, being famous should bring with it even greater responsibility. Tweets and outbursts should be considered before being fired into cyber space. Fame brings influence and it should also bring accountability and restraint. Many famous people are very keen to lecture us but are not keen to receive advice.

I will never forget Bob Geldof shouting at the camera and demanding we give money to Live Aid. It was a moment that captured the heart of the nation as a passionate pop star moved our hearts to give. Africa was an important cause, but over the years it has become very clear that some celebrities are good at asking for our money but not good at handing it over to the taxman – Bob Geldof was less forthcoming about his “non-dom” status to improve his tax benefits in the UK.

Good old Bono and his band U2 moved their financial base to the Netherlands using the same tax loophole used by the big businesses he condemned – rather hypocritical for an anti- poverty campaigner.

Surely these people should lead by example? Ordinary working people have to pay tax and don’t have the benefits of highly paid accountants to help them out.

Celebrities should understand that being political comes at a price. Not many people are bothered that U2 will not release an album whilst Trump is president. In all honesty I hope Trump is in power for years to spare us from the moaning of Bono and a bald man in a hat called “The Edge”. When Hollywood threatens a strike against Trump I rejoice.

It is about time celebrities understood that no one really cares what they say and every word they utter from their ivory towers is taken with a large pinch of salt.

GP Taylor is a writer and broadcaster and can be followed @GPTaylorauthor.