A growing number of TikTok users are collectively boycotting and blocking celebrities who have chosen to remain silent on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the war in Gaza, calling the trend BlockOut 2024 or Celebrity Block Party.
Blockout 2024 is a digital uprising aimed at holding celebrities accountable for their silence on the Gaza war.
In a video posted on May 8 by Tiktoker and creator of the campaign -@ladyfromtheoutside which has since garnered over two million views, she called for the blocking of wealthy socialites, celebrities and influencers.
“It’s time for the people to conduct what I want to call a digital guillotine — a ‘digitine,’ if you will,” she said. It’s time to block all the celebrities, influencers and wealthy socialites who are not using their resources to help those in dire need. We gave them their platforms. It’s time to take it back, take our views away, our likes, our comments, our money.”
In the video seen by The Kenya Times, the creator compiled a list of celebrities who attended the MET Gala, saying she would later look through to see if they used their platform to speak up on the ongoing war.
Consequently, Blockout 2024 quickly spread on TikTok after many celebrities attended the extravagant Met Gala while Israel bombed Rafah, the last so-called “safe zone” in Gaza.
According to the user (Blockout 2024), almost all attendees were silent and should have used their platforms to advocate for human rights.
Also Read: TikTok Fights Back Against US Law Seeking Its Ban
Since the war began, there have been free Palestine Street protests, some of which have been extreme. However, a growing number of internet users have decided to take their protests to digital platforms.
Some of the celebrities losing followers include Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Gal Gadot and Aliaa Bhat among others.
Origin of Blockout 2024
Blockout 2024 also known as Operation Blockout, stemmed from the supporters of the movement wanting to hold some of the key figures in the entertainment industry and society accountable for their silence on the Gaza crisis.
By depriving them of engagement and AD revenue, they are sending a message that silent celebrities are in support of Israe’s actions on Gaza.
The catalyst for the movement was the extravagant spectacle of the Met Gala, which starkly contrasted with the harsh reality in Gaza.
As timelines overflowed with images of extravagance, voices of protest grew louder asking why these icons stayed silent while lives were being shattered?
National Public Radio (NPR) reports indicate that Taylor Swift has lost roughly 300,000 followers on Tik Tok and about 50,000 on Instagram over the past week.
Also Read: Win for Gaza as Kenya, 142 Other Countries Vote to Grant Palestine New Status
Israel Invasion on Rafah
Israel’s Invasion on Gaza and the entire war between Palestine and Israel has created a sharp ideological division among countries worldwide.
International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan called on the issuance of warrant of arrest to prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what he termed as war crimes against humanity.
In response, Israel strongly condemned the decision of the ICC chief prosecutor seeking arrest warrants for Israeli officials regarding their involvement in the seven-month-long war in Gaza.
Likewise, US President Joe Biden said it was “outrageous” to apply for arrest warrants, as there was “no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas”.
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