Trump administration BANS 264 celebs from appearing in $250million coronovirus awareness ad campaign and approves just ten because stars such as J-Lo, Johnny Depp, Billie Eilish and Christina Aguilera have criticized the president
The Trump administration had approved a $250 million ad campaign just weeks before the upcoming election, targeting hundreds of celebrities to be involved though almost all were dropped, including Billie Eilish.
The $250 million advertising contract was awarded just weeks before the election, designed to, 'defeat despair and inspire hope,' amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the campaign putting together a list of 274 celebrities to possibly be included, according to The Washington Post.
Of the 274 celebrities on the list, only 10 were approved, with the rest dropped either for supporting President Barack Obama, being critical of Trump or supporting gay rights and/or same-sex marriage.
Dropped: The Trump administration had approved a $250 million ad campaign just weeks before the upcoming election, targeting hundreds of celebrities to be involved though almost all were dropped, including Billie Eilish
Trump campaign: The $250 million advertising contract was awarded just weeks before the election, designed to, 'defeat despair and inspire hope,' with the campaign putting together a list of 274 celebrities to possibly be included, according to The Washington Post
Eilish, 18, was taken out of consideration for the ad campaign since she was, 'not a Trump supporter,' and for her comments at the Democratic National Convention in August, where she was quoted as saying Trump is, 'destroying our country and everything we care about.'
Other notable celebs who were initially targeted for the ad campaign included Jennifer Lopez, though she was dropped due to her comments about Trump's immigration policies during her Super Bowl performance.
Filmmaker Judd Apatow was removed from consideration because he, 'believes Trump does not have the intellectual capacity to run as president.'
No Trump: Eilish, 18, was taken out of consideration for the ad campaign since she was, 'not a Trump supporter,' and for her comments at the Democratic National Convention in August, where she was quoted as saying Trump is, 'destroying our country and everything we care about'
Comedian George Lopez was rejected, 'due to previous concerns regarding his comments regarding the President.'
Documents obtained by three high-ranking Democrats also revealed reasons why several other celebs were 'rejected' from the campaign.
Christina Aguilera was dropped because she, 'is an Obama-supporting Democrat and a gay rights supporting liberal,' while her former colleague on The Voice, singer Adam Levine, was described as a, 'liberal Democrat who supported Obama and fights for gay rights.'
Justin Timberlake was dropped for, 'publicly endorsed Obama and supports gay marriage,' while actor Johnny Depp 'appears to be aligned with the liberal left' and actor Jack Black is 'known to be a classic Hollywood liberal.'
Of all the celebrities initially considered for the campaign, only 10 were approved: actor Dennis Quaid, gospel singer CeCe Winans, singer Marc Anthony, Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer, Mehmet Oz, a.k.a. Dr. Oz, country singers Billy Ray Cyrus, Miranda Lambert and Garth Brooks, former basketball player Dwyane Wade; and singer Enrique Iglesias.
Of those 10, only three of them actually recorded interviews, 'about aspects of the pandemic' that were to be used in the campaign.
Johnny Depp 'appears to be aligned with the liberal left' and was dropped
No for XTina: Christina Aguilera was dropped because she, 'is an Obama-supporting Democrat and a gay rights supporting liberal'
No Justin: Justin Timberlake was dropped for, 'publicly endorsed Obama and supports gay marriage,' while actor Johnny Depp 'appears to be aligned with the liberal left' and actor Jack Black is 'known to be a classic Hollywood liberal'
While it is not known which three of the 10 approved celebs recorded interviews, as of October 1, all of them withdrew their consent, and none of the PSA ads have aired.
Other celebs such as Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Aguilera, Depp, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Cardi B and Eminem were said to be those who could target, 'superspreaders,' though it remains unclear how they came to that conclusion.
The entire $250 million campaign is currently under review by the Department of Health and Human Services.
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