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Blockout 2024

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This article is about the online campaign. For other uses, see Blockout (disambiguation).

Blockout 2024 (stylized as the hashtag #Blockout2024), variously referred to as Operation Blockout or Celebrity Block Party,[1] was an online movement to block the social media accounts of celebrities and organizations, related to their silence over or support toward Israel in the war in Gaza. A wave of discontent was sparked on social media platforms on May 6, 2024, following the Met Gala, an annual fundraising event. This reaction was prompted by the circulation of photographs featuring celebrities in elaborate attire. A number of these celebrities had not publicly addressed the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, where continuous airstrikes by Israel by then led to the loss of over 35,000 lives. This lack of public commentary on the issue was highlighted and criticized by social media users.[2] By early August, the movement ended.[3]

Prelude

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The Blockout movement started through posts on TikTok after the Met Gala on May 6, 2024.[4] The exclusive $75,000 per ticket fashion event attended by influential celebrities drew comparisons to the class disparity of The Hunger Games,[5] with USA Today columnist Nicole Russell calling it "a tone-deaf charade of excess and hypocrisy."[6] A post by influencer Haley Kalil (known as @haleyybaylee on social media) became widely viewed showed her saying "Let them eat cake" in the style of Marie Antoinette.[7][1][8][9] After recent university campus war protests,[10] the ongoing Rafah offensive, and protesters outside of the Met Museum,[11][12][13] this contrast[14] became the subject of online posts and activism.[1][15] The release of the song "Hind's Hall" by Macklemore on the same day as the Met Gala was notable, with the lyrics referring to: "The music industry's quiet, complicit in their platform of silence."[16]

Shortly after the event, TikTok account @BlockOut2024 posted a video encouraging users to block celebrities at the Met Gala and others on social media,[17][18] but others have attributed the start of the effort to the account @ladyfromtheoutside.[19][20] This resulted in the hashtags #blockout2024 and #celebrityblocklist starting to trend, alongside #AllEyesOnRafah.[21][22] Because of the reference to Antoinette, the activism was also referred to as a "digitine" or digital guillotine.[23][24][25] However, dissenters claimed the attention on celebrities detracted from the war's on-ground coverage.[26]

Targeted accounts

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Among the celebrities targeted in the movement are Gal Gadot,[27] Selena Gomez, Drake, Justin Bieber,[28] Hailey Bieber, Beyoncé,[29] Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Zendaya,[30] Kim Kardashian, Alia Bhatt, Timothee Chalamet, Oprah, Charli D'Amelio, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, The Weeknd, Jennie of Blackpink, Harry Styles, Jojo Siwa, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Shakira, Kylie Jenner and Taylor Swift.[17] Various accounts dedicated to the movement were created on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, which compile lists of celebrities and link their accounts for activists to block.[31]

Some of those originally targeted in the block posted videos encouraging donations to Gaza support and relief efforts, including Lizzo and Chris Olsen.[28]

The campaign also gave rise to country-specific lists, such as ones in Malaysia.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Blockout 2024 movement: Hollywood celebrities' online follower count declines". The Daily Star. 2024-05-12. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  2. ^ Shamim, Sarah. "Why are social media users blocking celebrities over Israel's Gaza war?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  3. ^ Answer, Areesha (10 August 2024). "Influence Equation of Social Media". The Nation. Vol. 38, no. 117. ProQuest 3091083315.
  4. ^ "What is the celebrity 'blockout' over the war in Gaza?". AP News. 2024-05-15. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  5. ^ Navlakha, Meera (2024-05-07). "Why the internet is comparing the Met Gala to 'The Hunger Games'". Mashable. Archived from the original on 2024-05-11. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  6. ^ Russell, Nicole. "Yes, Zendaya looked stunning. But Met Gala was a tone-deaf charade of excess and hypocrisy". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  7. ^ Veltman, Chloe (May 11, 2024). "The Met Gala has fueled backlash against stars who are silent about the Gaza conflict". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Butler, Sinead (May 10, 2024). "Why are people blocking celebrities on social media in 'digitine' movement?". www.indy100.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  9. ^ Martin, Chase (May 10, 2024). "TikTok users are encouraging people to block celebrities". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Lowe, Lindsay (2024-05-13). "Social media users are trying to 'deplatform' celebrities by blocking them. Is it working?". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  11. ^ Bramley, Ellie Violet (2024-05-10). "'Really dystopian': why was there no mention of Gaza at the Met Gala?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  12. ^ "New social media trend: Blocking celebrities who didn't take pro-Palestinian stance at Met Gala". The Jerusalem Post. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  13. ^ Narayanan, Pratish (May 6, 2024). "NYC Police Arrest 27 Protesters Who Marched Toward Met Gala". www.bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  14. ^ Veltman, Chloe (2024-05-11). "The Met Gala has fueled backlash against stars who are silent about the Gaza conflict". Houston Public Media. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  15. ^ Tufts, John. "A viral TikTok trend wants you to block celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kim K. Here's why". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  16. ^ McFall, Marni Rose (2024-05-14). "What is 'operation blockout' and which celebrities are being targeted?". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  17. ^ a b Reilly, Kaitlin (2024-05-11). "Why are social media users blocking celebrities and influencers on TikTok? A look at the #Blockout movement". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  18. ^ Hamed, Assiah (2024-05-12). "TikTokers call to block celebs after 'tone deaf' Met Gala". New Arab. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  19. ^ "Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Drake and other celebs become targets of "Block Out 2024" over Gaza silence". The Times of India. 2024-05-14. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  20. ^ Sloss, Morgan (2024-05-13). "Here's What You Need To Know About The "Blackout 2024" Movement". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  21. ^ Chavez, Paloma (May 10, 2024). "'Let them eat cake.' Why people are blocking celebrities on TikTok after the Met Gala". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Blockout 2024 movement explained: Why are A-list celebrities losing followers amid Met Gala outrage?". Hindustan Times. 2024-05-11. Archived from the original on 2024-05-11. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  23. ^ Hadge, Mike (2024-05-09). "'Digitine': TikTok's celebrity-blocking spree has begun". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  24. ^ Jalal, Maan (2024-05-12). "What is the digitine movement? Why people are blocking celebrities on social media". The National. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  25. ^ "Blockout 2024: TikTok's Movement Against Celebrity Indifference". DSCENE. 2024-05-13. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  26. ^ Hajela, Deepti (21 May 2024). "'Blockout' protest targets celebrities:". The Montana Standard. Vol. 149, no. 42. Butte. p. 26 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  27. ^ Shamim, Sarah (13 May 2024). "Why are social media users blocking celebrities over Israel's Gaza war?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  28. ^ a b Yang, Angela (2024-05-12). "Social media users are collectively blocking celebrities and influencers who have been silent on Gaza". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  29. ^ Dolak, Kevin (2024-05-15). "#Blockout2024 Campaign Targets Celebrities Quiet on War in Gaza". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  30. ^ "'It's time to take our views away': Why fans are blocking celebrities on their social media". ABC News. 2024-05-13. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  31. ^ "Alia Bhatt On The 'Blockout 2024' List After Met Gala. What". The Quint. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  32. ^ Sanusi, Raiham Mohd (2024-05-13). "'Blockout2024' campaign spreads to Malaysia, India, UAE, UK, Europe etc". Sinar Daily. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
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