Graphic by Phoebe Stone
Influencers have certainly made their mark in entertainment. According to Trend Hero, in 2023, there were over 64 million active influencer accounts on Instagram. But even though influencers are growing in reach and popularity, that doesn't mean they fit on the guest list for Academy red carpet events.
Red carpet events traditionally honor an art form and carry historical prestige. You would expect the guest lists for events like these to consist of filmmakers, musicians and artists—individuals who made contributions to a recognized project. Yet in recent years, influencers have stepped onto the scene.
What it means to be famous has evolved as influencers have grown from online personalities into celebrities; however, popularity should not grant immediate access to events.
Social media content is driven by short, surface-level strategic communications tied to the role algorithms play in engagement, while films and music are driven by craft and artistry. Craft implies years of passion and a dedication to constantly improving one’s engagement with their art. It requires an artistic approach, while online content often takes a more strategic approach.
Award shows recognize this by excluding social media content from nominations. However, influencers still attend programs, often acting as reporters, such as Emma Chamberlain at the Met Gala. Influencers get exclusive interviews with prominent attendees right up until the night's main events, but there is one important distinction: influencers are not reporters or entertainment journalists.
Entertainment journalists are trained in reporting and interviewing; they often hold degrees in journalism and communications. Covering events like the Oscars and the Grammys is often a career highlight. When influencers take over reporting in this way, entertainment journalists lose out.
Content creators want interview clips that can go viral, but that doesn't replace genuine journalistic interviewing skills. For instance, TikTokers Jake Shane and Quen Blackwell interviewed Julia Fox and Damson Idris at this year’s Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty. Shane repeatedly asked the actors if the child character in their movie If I Had Legs I’d Kick You was annoying, making Fox and Elba blatantly uncomfortable. The actors explained that the child’s behavior wasn’t meant to be what the film was trying to critique, but rather the societal system that sets mothers up to fail. Shane’s question didn’t grasp the nuance of the film and instead functioned as a poor comedic attempt.
The world of fame has changed, but that doesn’t mean that art doesn’t deserve to be honored. Influencers certainly bring excitement to certain events, but that excitement shouldn’t come at the expense of trained professionals who have worked their entire careers for such opportunities.