Bethenny Frankel believes Kamala Harris’ Hollywood endorsements may have cost the vice president the 2024 presidential election.
“I genuinely did not think that aligning with celebrities is and was a good idea,” the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, 54, said in a video she posted on Instagram Wednesday.
“I don’t think that the American public, by in large, cares about whose hobnobbing with celebrities. I think that it’s the forbidden fruit. It’s so tempting … it’s the shiny object and I don’t think it’s a working model.”
Frankel recognized, however, that mistakes were made “on both sides” of the political aisle.
However, she then doubled down on criticizing the star power Harris garnered throughout her campaign.
The SkinnyGirl founder said, “I’ve been around so many elitist people that they think that their vote is more important than someone else’s vote because of their socioeconomic status or because of their education level or because of where they’ve worked and it doesn’t work.”
Frankel — who supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election against Donald Trump — added in a second video on Instagram Wednesday that “celebrities no longer have influence.”
She pointed out that despite A-listers who endorsed Harris — like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez and other stars — having a combined social media following of more than 2 billion followers, they were not able to “move the needle” in the Democratic party’s direction.
“That means [celebrity endorsements are] a spinning wheel, it’s useless, it’s a flex and it doesn’t even do anything,” the former Bravolebrity concluded.
Some people in Frankel’s comments section expanded on the criticism further, writing, “People who are struggling with paying for groceries and their rent do not need any advice from out of touch celebs.”
Another agreed, “We don’t need wealthy celebrities who are out of touch with everyday lives in the US to tell us how to vote. It was a ridiculously transparent and condescending way to talk to voters that are living pay check to pay check.”
Leading up to Election Day, Harris not only received endorsements via social media from stars like Swift, 34, but she also invited celebs to either participate or perform at her rallies.
Megan Thee Stallion performed in Atlanta in July just shortly after President Joe Biden stepped down from the race to give Harris, 60, the Democratic candidate nomination.
The vice president also had Beyoncé give an impassioned speech in October and Cardi B also spoke at a separate event in Milwaukee later that month.
GloRilla closed out the campaign trail with a performance at the same rally the “I Like It” rapper attended.
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Page Six has reached out to Harris’ reps for comment on whether they regret their decision to incorporate so much star power in the campaign but did not immediately hear back.
The vice president also did not express any remorse when giving her concession speech Wednesday.
She told her supporters from her alma mater, Howard University, at the time, “My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve.”
Trump, 68, beat Harris by winning 295 of the electoral college vote and the majority of the popular vote.
English (US) ·