Black Eyed Pols
Barack Obama did more than win Grammies with his audiobooks. He won some celebrity support. When asked Wednesday night how she came to be a fan, the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie said, “I got Obama’s audiobook,” adding that it really inspired her.
For her bandmate will.i.am, the path to Obamamania was a bit more traditional. Speaking on the red carpet at the Creative Coalition gala Wednesday, where they were set to perform later that night, he said he was struck by Obama’s speech after finishing second in the New Hampshire primary.
He also downplayed his celebrity status. “I’m not here as a person from Hollywood,” he said. “I’m here as an American. … The key to ‘celebrity’ is ‘celebrate.’ I’m here to celebrate Barack Obama.”
He added that celebs face a catch-22. Although they sometimes catch grief for getting involved in politics, he said, “If we didn’t, then you guys would be attacking us, too.”
