At least five of the celebrities who participated in a viral video aimed at boosting voter turnout in the 2014 midterm elections did not bother to show up to the polls themselves four years ago.
Rock the Vote, the voter turnout group, released the video “Turn Out For What” last month. It is a parody of a popular song released by rapper Lil Jon called “Turn Down For What” and aimed at increasing turnout among young people.
“We’ve created the 2014 Midterm Election anthem with Turn Out for What,” Ashley Spillane said last month upon the video’s release. “With all of our partners, we’re demonstrating the impact you can have when you care like crazy about an issue AND vote.”
But according to The Washington Post, the voting records of five participants, actors Lena Dunham, Natasha Lyonne, E.J. Johnson, Darren Criss, and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg, show they all failed to practice in 2010 what they are preaching today.
The Post checked voting records in Los Angeles and New York City.
In the PSA the celebrities introduce themselves and state their pet issues.
“My name is Lil Lena, and I’m turning out for reproductive rights,” said Dunham, the creator and star of the HBO series “Girls.”
The actress also starred in a 2012’s “Your First Time,” another voter turnout video in which Dunham compared her first time voting to losing her virginity. Since she did not punch a ballot in 2010, it is unclear when that actually occurred.
Rock The Vote indicated it was not bothered by the celebrities’ checkered voting history.
“Rock The Vote’s approach is forward-looking,” the group’s spokeswoman, Audrey Gelman, told The Washington Post. “The talent who participate in our campaigns are registered to vote and have pledged to turn out this Tuesday and in upcoming elections. We believe individuals who have missed opportunities to vote in the past should not be disqualified from committing to participate in the political process in the future, and helping spread a positive message of civic engagement.”
The Post could not determine if the other six PSA performers, including Lil Jon, voted in 2010.