Pharrell Williams, the man who brought us the ultimate dance anthem “Happy,” is apparently not so happy when celebrities start throwing political advice at us mere mortals. In fact, he’s got some strong opinions about not having opinions. Yes, the irony is so thick, you could spread it on toast.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 51-year-old musician, who once donned a “Vote or Die” T-shirt like a political superhero in 2004, seems to have experienced a sudden case of selective amnesia. “I don’t do politics,” he declared, as if we didn’t all see him urging us to hit the voting booths like our lives depended on it. Pharrell, buddy, we remember. We have receipts.
But wait, there’s more! He went on to say, “I get annoyed when celebrities try to tell you who to vote for.” This is coming from a guy who literally had a campaign slogan that was one vowel away from threatening our lives if we didn’t vote. But now? Nah, Pharrell’s above it. He’s over here rolling his eyes at celebrity political endorsements like he’s never been in those shoes. Spoiler alert: He has.
“There are celebrities I respect that have an opinion,” he admitted, adding, “but not all of them.” Pharrell, once again, kind of hinting at the fact that *he* is one of the special chosen few whose opinion matters. The rest? Pfft. Get outta here with your self-righteous placards and rolled-up sleeves. Pharrell’s message is simple: take your cardboard sign and keep walking.
As for his own political stance? Well, he’s keeping that as vague as possible. When asked who he’s voting for, Pharrell cryptically said, “Not sure I’ll ever vote far right.” Ooo, bold stance. It’s almost like saying, “I don’t like anchovies on my pizza.” Not groundbreaking, but hey, it’s a start.
However, before Pharrell gets too comfortable in his “I’m too cool for politics” chair, the internet—bless its ever-watchful eye—dug up some old gems. Like that time he tweeted about Aaron Rouse running for Virginia State Senator in 2022, encouraging people to vote with more enthusiasm than a Disney character at a parade: “Virginia! Let your voice be heard, VOTE NOW✨ #TeamRouse 😌”
Oh, and let’s not forget his other small act of political engagement when he endorsed Hillary Clinton on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016. “It’s time for a woman to be in there,” he said with the confidence of someone who’s absolutely forgotten that this whole interview is contradicting his previous actions. “Women think about things in a holistic way,” he continued, apparently now a certified expert in the female brain.
Pharrell doesn’t do politics… except for that time he definitely did. Pharrell Williams is politically neutral. Until he isn’t.
You can’t have revisionist history when things are published. https://t.co/x4862ZyHwx pic.twitter.com/jH4jDAyicR
— Queer Latifah 🥂 (@TheAfrocentricI) September 17, 2024
