When King Writes

Today, I want to dive into something completely new for my blog: the (un)surprising similarities between presidential voting results in the US and the Philippines, particularly the effect of celebrity endorsements.

In the US, Kamala Harris received endorsements from countless A-listers. Yet Trump—with his controversial and “blemished” history—still emerged victorious.

In the Philippines, Leni Robredo, with a star-studded roster of supporters, lost to Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., whose family history is equally, if not more, controversial.

So, why did men with controversial pasts and vague platforms defeat women supported by public figures who presented clear, actionable plans?

Here are my thoughts, focusing primarily on celebrity endorsements.

Celebrity Endorsements: Impact or Noise?

From what we’ve seen in the election results, celebrity endorsements don’t sway voters. 

Why? Maybe because we don’t see a direct connection between our own lives and the choices of these celebrities.

Left’s face it: most voters don’t live glamorous, privilege-filled lives. So when a celebrity endorses a candidate, voters might feel, “Well, that’s nice for you, but you don’t know what it’s like to live my reality.”

We can’t ignore that fact that there’s a growing divide where the “elite” (including celebrities) is seen as disconnected from real problems. If voters perceive a candidate as the “celebrities’ choice,” it can actually alienate them, pushing them toward the opposite camp.

Also… celebrity opinions are seen as performative. It’s like preaching without practicing. It doesn’t feel personal when a celebrity endorses a candidate because we see them perform all the time in the big screen. So it never feels like a heart-to-heart conversation. It doesn’t have that “pull”.

And my big point is: voting is personal, not a pop culture. A celebrity inspires admiration and fandom, but that doesn’t automatically translate to political influence. Just because I like an actor in a movie doesn’t mean I trust that person to guide my voting decisions.

The result? Celebrities are great at rallying people who already support the candidate, but they rarely change minds. If anything, their endorsements just solidify pre-existing divisions between voters.

Leni Robredo and Kamala Harris: What Else Went Wrong?

Just quick thoughts here:

Both Robredo and Harris were portrayed as intellectuals—well-educated, principled, and competent. Yet, their campaigns struggled against the weight of disinformation and the echo chambers of social media. 

With all the amplified divisive narratives, people just didn’t know what to believe. Sadly, I know some people who didn’t vote at all out of confusion.

Then, there’s the undeniable power of historical revisionism… Marcos Jr.’s win is tied to the rewriting of the Marcos family’s history, especially on social media. Trump, too, reframed his controversies as “witch hunts” or “fake news.” 

In the end, despite legal challenges and controversies, many voters viewed Trump as a decisive leader capable of addressing national issues effectively. Maybe something that they couldn’t see in Kamala. Whether this has something to do with the US never having a female president yet, I don’t know and I couldn’t say.

In the Philippines, Marcos Jr. formed strategic partnerships with influential political families, including the Arroyos, Estradas, and Dutertes. Among other strategies, but that’s not the point of this opinion piece.

In the End, What Can We Learn From This?

The recent presidential elections in the United States and the Philippines shows the limited influence of celebrity endorsements on voter behavior. Despite high-profile support for Kamala Harris and Leni Robredo, both candidates were defeated by opponents with controversial histories.

Celebrity endorsements are not a panacea for electoral success.

For better leaders to win the hearts of voters, they need strategies that go beyond star power—strategies that dismantle perceptions of elitism, counter disinformation, and break through echo chambers.