[mgkimsal]

> What does it matter to the proletarians if a famous person (say an actor) says something pro or against Brexit (for example). You have your vote, you cast it and that's what really matters to your category: representation.

Sort of in agreement with you, but on this, I think there's good reason to be concerned with something like this. If people with social influence disagree with your position and are public about it, they are in a position to influence more people than you can, and your position is less likely to be heard/adopted/enacted/etc.

I'm not sure that's actually why people get upset/involved when famous people hold opposing views - I think it's probably something more visceral - but I can say I don't want views in opposition to mine to get amplified favorable treatment in the media.

Perhaps secondarily, people get upset with famous folks holding opposing views because it ruins our perceptions of them. We often think we 'know' famous people on some level, and when they break out of the model we have of them, it's bothersome.

[romanoderoma]

> If people with social influence disagree with your position and are public about it, they are in a position to influence more people than you can,

Yes, it does.

But in a different way than people think.

First of all, it only reinforces the positions pro or con, it doesn't actually move votes, it polarizes them though.

So in theory the best reaction would be to ignore the statement if you are against it, to not give it more exposure.

Secondly, attacking that person personally, commenting on social networks, usually with fake names, I doubt solves anything at all.

> Perhaps secondarily, people get upset with famous folks holding opposing views because it ruins our perceptions of them

That's my impression too, people, but I should simply say humans, we are all affected in a way or another, usually don't like to have their opinions challenged, because it puts them in the position of reconsidering their choices and we kinda have a natural protection against it that made us form tribes that lasted because members shared a common view and common beliefs against "the others".

Probably if that famous person is someone you follow and then you find out that they don't actually think like you do or like you believed they did, it can feel like a betrayal.

But on the other hand, I love Ted Nugent's music while I completely despise the man behind it...

I'm not shocked when he says what he says, I simply don't understand how that same man made something I like so much.