During the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle, allegations surfaced that Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign paid significant sums to high-profile celebrities and influencers for endorsements. These claims, primarily attributed to Lindy Li, a former Democratic National Committee finance committee member and political commentator, have sparked debate about the ethics of political campaign spending. According to Li and various others, celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Al Sharpton, Beyoncé, Katy Perry and others were allegedly paid substantial amounts to support Harris’s campaign.

Lindy Li alleged that the Harris campaign spent millions on celebrity endorsements, naming several high-profile individuals.

1. Beyoncé: Reports claim Beyoncé was paid $10 million for her endorsement or appearance at a campaign event. Li specifically noted that despite Beyoncé’s denials of being paid, her production company received funds. Critics pointed out that Beyoncé delivered a speech at a Harris event but did not perform, which led to some public backlash when Harris was booed afterward.
2. Oprah Winfrey: Oprah, a longtime supporter of Democratic candidates, was allegedly paid $1 million to $2.5 million through her production company for campaign appearances or endorsements. These claims suggest that her company, Harpo Productions, received the funds, which coincided with high-profile events described as a “love fest” for Harris.
3. Al Sharpton: The civil rights leader and MSNBC host was reportedly paid $500,000 through his National Action Network shortly before conducting a favorable interview with Harris. This has raised questions about journalistic integrity, particularly given Sharpton’s role as a media figure.
4. Katy Perry: While less specific figures were mentioned, posts on X and other sources claim Katy Perry was among the celebrities paid for her endorsement of Harris. No exact amount was consistently reported, but her inclusion in these allegations suggests payments in the six-figure range or higher.
5. Other Celebrities: Additional names, such as Megan Thee Stallion ($5 million), Lizzo ($2.3 million), Eminem ($1.8 million), and Roland Martin’s NuMedia ($350,000), were mentioned in posts on X as recipients of payments for their support. These figures, however, lack consistent sourcing beyond social media claims and were not directly attributed to Lindy Li in all cases.

Federal election law requires campaigns to report expenditures, including payments for services like appearances or media production, but direct payments for endorsements could attract scrutiny from the FEC.

Critics argue that the Harris campaign’s spending, which reportedly exceeded $1 billion overall, was mismanaged, with large sums allocated to celebrity appearances that failed to translate into electoral success. For instance, Beyoncé’s non-performance at a campaign event was cited as a missed opportunity that led to negative publicity.

The backlash against Sharpton’s alleged payment has fueled discussions about media bias and the intersection of journalism and activism.

The Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign, including allied Democratic efforts, reportedly spent between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion. Estimates vary across sources:

• A Financial Times analysis reported $1.2 billion in total campaign spending.
• Other sources, including The New York Times and The Economic Times, estimate spending at around $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion, with significant allocations for advertising ($1.37 billion to $1.4 billion) and other expenses.

Despite raising over $1 billion, the campaign ended with approximately $20 million in debt. The overspending was attributed to heavy investments in advertising, celebrity appearances, and large-scale events.

For precise details, you can review Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings