The Democratic National Convention attracted its fair share of celebrity attendees.
Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Eva Longoria, Ben Stiller, Octavia Spencer, Uzo Aduba, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Mindy Kaling were just some of the famous faces to appear on stage or were spotted at the United Center in Chicago. The four-day event also featured performances by John Legend, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Pink, The Chicks, Mickey Guyton, Jason Isbell and Lil Jon.
Soon after Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominee when Joe Biden left the race, many A-list actors, athletes, directors, producers and writers quickly endorsed the vice president.
But funnyman Zach Galifianakis is warning the Harris campaign not to get too cozy with celebs.
Popular on Variety
“As a small-town guy from North Carolina … I do wish the DNC would step back from the celebrities a little bit,” the “Hangover” star told me Thursday at the “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4 premiere in Hollywood.
The cast and creatives of the Hulu show walked the carpet at the premiere just as the final night of the DNC was taking place. As the screening began, Harris was delivering her nomination acceptance speech.
“It works to a point, but they have to win over rural America,” Galifianakis said of celebrity support of politicians, adding, “Hollywood thinks it’s so important and that’s a problem. Actors are people too, and they’re citizens too, but I’m more on the small-town side of that than I am on the Hollywood side of that. That’s just me.”
Kumail Nanjiani, on the other hand, says he’s been in touch with the Harris-Walz campaign about getting involved with the election. “I’m going to make videos to get people to register to vote. I might make some appearances later,” he said. “It’s really unbelievable how I was feeling a month and a half ago and how I’m feeling now. It’s really inspiring … This has given me faith in humanity. I just feel lighter and happier. I am going to say I am fighting to stay hopeful and not get too optimistic or confident. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
Steve Martin said he hadn’t been watching the convention because it makes him “too nervous.”
“I don’t want them to make a mistake,” he said.
Selena Gomez said she “probably” would have preferred being home watching the DNC than walking the red carpet. Martin Short said the same.
“Saturday Night Live” alum Molly Shannon thinks Harris would make a great “SNL” host, saying she’d love to bring back her iconic character Sally O’Malley for a skit with the presidential hopeful.