Musician Kenny Chesney spoke out about his stance on politics, saying he never thought it was his “place” to talk about it, sparking debate on The View about the duty of celebrities to speak out.
“I’ve never saw it to be my place to use my stage or platform, no matter where I’m playing, to tell people how to think or how to vote,” Chesney said on Club Random with Bill Maher Monday.
“They get that [politics] everywhere else. Everywhere, on every device, every network. They’re there [at concerts] as an escape from all that stuff,” Chesney said.
“There’s a certain ego, I think, that lives in there [the brain] and a certain box inside your head and your soul that you have to check, for some reason, to think that you can make a difference.”
The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg discussed Chesney’s remarks on Tuesday.
Co-host Joy Behar chimed in, saying Bruce Springsteen is an example of a celebrity who is vocal about his stance in politics.
“Springsteen walks the walk. He talks about politics. He is a great talent. He can afford it,” Behar said. “If you can afford it, you certainly should speak up. It’s an American obligation in a certain way.”
“It’s not everybody’s ability,” Goldberg said.
“He [Chesney] doesn’t think he can make a difference. I disagree with that. I think everyone can make a difference,” Behar said.
Co-host Sara Haines said, “I like to be able to check out of something and not have it be politics,” and admired that some artists say they use their music to bring people together.
Co-host Sunny Hostin talked about her relationship with Chesney. She said they are good friends, but they never talk about politics. She said it’s just not “his jam.”
Hostin said that if you have a platform and are comfortable speaking about politics, “you must do it” to give people a voice.
Hostin cited research from Harvard University in 2024 about the impact of celebrities on politics.
“It does matter, it makes a difference,” Hostin said, based on the study.
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Goldberg maintained that a call to civic action isn’t meant for every celebrity.
“You shouldn’t expect it from anyone,” Goldberg said. “Every individual has the right to make their own mind up.”