this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2024
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"Non-political", in the US, really means that you aren't going to make any statements against oppression. Every "non-political" personality is doing something political, certainly in the sense of what they are socially doing as part of their job as entertainer. They're often petty bourgeois and treat their employees poorly. Even if they treat them relatively well, they will adopt the persona if a small business owner and represent their interests. You mentioned Mr. Beast. He started various small business tyrant grifts based in his YouTube fame, hocking garbage to children and teenagers, getting in on the ghost kitchen grift, etc. That is where they spend their time and thoughts and how they present themselves: as a set of branded products. If one of these personalities uses their platform to say how difficult but rewarding it is to be a small business tyrant, that is "non-politicL" and nobody even notices. If they or, more likely, one of their employees talks about poor workplace conditions and racist incidents on set, that counts as "political".
It makes sense given how "non-political" discourse functions. It isn't even just implicit support for the status quo, it requires downplaying or hiding oppression, and that is an inherently right wing position.
I'm astounded by how much self-inflicted harm did to his brand around the time of the submarine incident. He could have said nothing instead and coasted along with basically unlimited government subsidies and a public image of "just wants to Save Humanity(tm)" but nope.