Celebrities facing digital ‘blocking’ over silence on Gaza war

A movement known as “Blockout 2024” has gained traction on social media, urging users to block the accounts of celebrities who have remained silent about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

People around the world are expressing their frustration with celebrities who are unaware of the dire situation in Gaza and who are not using their influence to draw attention to it. According to a TikToker involved in the movement, the goal is to “stop certain sources of income and popularity” of celebrities.

Organized social media users are sharing lists of celebrities to block, leading to a significant loss of followers for several public figures on Instagram and other platforms, according to Social Blade, a US-based social media analytics website. UNITED STATES.

Selena Gomez, actress and singer, lost a million followers on Instagram and 100,000 on X.

Zendaya, actress and singer, lost 153,000 followers on Instagram and 40,000 on X.

Reality TV star, businesswoman and social media influencer Kim Kardashian lost 780,000 followers on Instagram.

Reality TV star and businesswoman Kylie Jenner lost 540,000 followers on Instagram and 53,000 on X.

Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish lost 1.1 million followers on Instagram.

Beyoncé, internationally renowned singer, songwriter and actress, lost 689,000 followers on Instagram.

Rihanna, singer and actress, lost 110,000 followers on X.

The movement was sparked by a TikTok video from influencer Haley Kalil at the Met Gala on May 7, where she lip-synched to the phrase “Let them eat cake.” This phrase draws parallels with the French Revolution, when Queen Marie Antoinette’s supposed indifference to the suffering of the poor became symbolic.

After more than seven months of Israeli war left large swaths of Gaza in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, Kalil’s video sparked backlash on social media. A TikTok user shared a video in which he said: “It’s time for people to throw a ‘digital guillotine’ at all the celebrities who aren’t using their resources to help those who sorely need it.” »

More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 78,000 injured in a brutal Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip since an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7 last year that killed nearly 1,200 people .