Remember that “Rock the Vote” advertisement that featured joint-wielding Lil Jon and scantily-clad Lena Dunham? Well, a lot of the celebrities in the video didn’t “rock” the voting polls last midterm election at all.
As the Washington Post points out, no less than five individuals featured in the advertisement didn’t vote during the last midterm election. These celebrities include Whoopi Goldberg, Darren Criss, Natasha Lyonne of “Orange is the New Black,” Magic Johnson’s son E.J. of “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills,” and — yes — Lena Dunham.
Six of the other celebrities’ voting records were no located, which of course means that there could be as many as 11 young individuals in the video that did not vote in 2010.
But, according to a “Rock the Vote” spokesperson, the organization doesn’t care whether or not its celebrity endorsers voted in past elections.
“Rock The Vote’s approach is forward-looking,” spokeswoman Audrey Gelman explained in an e-mail. “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,” Gelman added.
Apparently, the answer to Lil Jon’s question of “turn out for what?” was a firm “nothing” for many of the celebrities in the video at the time of the last midterm.
Watch the “Rock the Vote” PSA below.
