Celebrity activism: the power and the risk

Using celebrities to get a mainstream audience to pay attention to a cause is an effective tool used by activists, but there are risks involved says a UBC professor.

"Having a big celebrity, who is trustedto speak about the issue can createa a lot of media and public attention that would be difficult for an environmentalist to get," saidKathryn Harrison, UBC political science professor.

• Miley Cyrus targets B.C.'s wolf cull, grizzly hunt in video

• Pamela Anderson calls on Christy Clark to end B.C. wolf cull

But it's not always smooth sailing, says Harrison. She points toAmerican pop starMileyCyrus'smost recentvisit toB.C. to bring attention to theprovince'swolf cull.

"There are a lot of young people now, who are aware of B.C.'s wolf cull because of Miley Cyrus's Instagram intervention," said Harrison.

But Cyrus's efforts were dismissedbyPremier Christy Clarkwho told her to stick to twerking, a provocative dance for whichCyrus is known. Harrisonsays that is one of the risks of having a cause supported by acelebrity.

"The celebrity would be discredited as just a dilettante that doesn't knowwhat they are talking about," she explained.

Harrison says celebrities can also quickly taint a cause by being labelled as hypocrites due to theirlavish lifestyle.

"We've all heard of Al Gore's big house or whether Neil Young travelled in private jets to get to some of his concerts," she explained.

Harrison says there are also concerns that acomplicated issue could easily bedumbed down or quickly turned into what the celebrityis wearing. However, Harrison says the trend tocelebrity activism is likely here to stay.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelledCelebrity activism: the power and the riskwiththe CBC's Rick Cluff onThe Early Edition.