Leo, Ellen, Halle And More Celebs' New Message: Don't Vote (VIDEO)

NEW YORK - How do you get kids to vote? Just say no.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, Tobey Maguire, Eva Longoria Parker and other stars are using reverse psychology to get young people into voting booths on election day.

In a new public service announcement that hit YouTube and other online outlets Wednesday, DiCaprio says: "Please -- just don't vote." Others echo his plea: "Don't vote."

But the stars soon twist the message: Voting is a civic duty and the only way to effect change.

"I mean, seriously, ... after this whole video -- if you're not gonna vote, I don't even know what to say. ... You know you have to vote," says DiCaprio, who produced the PSA.

Also appearing: Ellen DeGeneres, Forest Whitaker, Dustin Hoffman, Demi Moore, Sarah Silverman, Jonah Hill, Ashton Kutcher, Courteney Cox, Laura Linney, Natalie Portman, Jamie Foxx, Usher, Kyra Sedgwick and will.i.am.

WATCH:

Comments

[Ironfox]

O'Rielly, ( not CNN Bill ) if you are reading this you have to admit that this is brilliant, hope to hear you comment on it.

[Ironfox]

Mea Culpa, not FOX Bill.

[bigmamarosycheeks]

I love this video. These are people doing what they can do to create some kind of action. What do you want them to do? What can YOU do? This is what they do best. They weren't telling us how to think about anything. They weren't acting like they have some kind of superior stance. It was well done and it was funny. Lighten up people.

[IGTV]

Don't Vote If You Don't Know The Issues

http://www.idiotsguidetovoting.com/

[dutt]

Good point. With voting does come a responsibility to be informed on the issues.

[Ironfox]

This is either dripping with sarcasm, or, is one of the stupidest posts I've ever seen considering the American voting record.

[doctordoubt]

How about don't run for office if you don't know the issues?

[peskyliberal]

Hear! Hear!

[brashier]

I just wasted 3 minutes of my life on that website. Where was the candidates' stance on the issues?

[soldiersupporter]

we can all make comments about the relative importance of celebrities for one reason or the other, but it is impressive to see so many willing to donate their time to encourage something so fundamental to our democracy. it is sad to see an effort to increase the voting percentage in the country demeaned as some sort of worthless activity. as near as I can tell, they didn't endorse a candidate, only suggested people vote. I mean, how un American, actually voting, imagine what would happen if we had 75-80% voter turnout? maybe even 90%. wow, to paraphrase the video, that would be awful, just awful....

This country would be such a different place if we all voted. if we all had a vested interest in the election and paid the kind of attention an informed voter, regardless of party, would represent. not the loud, trivial assaults we read every day.

[kuastar]

Statistical fact: The higher the percentage of the electorate that votes, the more the vote swings left. Therefore, the right has a vested interest in suppressing the overall voting numbers (however they can) and vice-versa (however they can). For example, REMIND YOUR FRIENDS TO REGISTER TO VOTE IF THEY'RE NOT ALREADY!

[MyUserName]

All this video does for me..is makes me dislike the celebrities acting in it!
So sad..so sickening.­..

[CountryBeforeParty]

Last time I checked celebrities have the right to vote as well. If they can influence people in a positive way then so be it.

Are you saying that if Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Patricia Heaton, Lacey Chabert, Drew Carey and Chuck Norris came out with their own video saying to go vote that you would be disgusted by them?

You won't see any video from the GOP telling young people to go vote, because they don't want people to vote.

[Just Joe]

Why? You find the fact that they are encouraging people to vote sad... and sickening?
Last election 55% of those eligible to vote actually did vote. 45% did not. That is a lot of people. That many people could definitely change an election outcome.

A lot of people worked hard, and even died to give all of us the right and privilege of voting.
A right and privilege that not everyone in the world has.

VOTE.

[rmetz74]

Yes. All these people acting like they're free to say whatever they want in this country, it's horrib...

Wait. I mean...

[brashier]

Then why did you watch it? Was it a big shock to see celebrities trying to get out the vote after you read the description of the video then saw Halle Berry's face under the 'play' button? Are you a masochist?

How about 'All this arsenic does for me..is makes me dislike the poison in it!' DUH...

[CostaMesaJoe]

Waa! Waa! Look at all the crying!

Since when did becoming a film-star make you a second-class American citizen?
Why shouldn't they have an opinion? This is America, is it not?

Why should college-drop outs like Rush and Hannity be the only ones allowed to spew their opinions? How are they any less celebrities? What? You think they live like you? lmao

Hypocrites.

[Owlygirl]

Don't get me wrong. I could not dig Leonardo more as an actor and pro-environmental activist. But this is a piece of crap. It's boring, too long and overdone. It speaks to me of the huge vanity of most celebrity egos who believe the mere presence of their image will make something worthwhile. I've never shot a piece of film outside my digital camera, however I could have produced a sleeker and more interesting PSA than this ridiculously meandering mess. Ugh.

[wolfgangmo]

Ah yes, the young spielberg speaks .

Can you tell us who you would have asked to be in YOUR PSA for free?

[rmetz74]

Perhaps they think the presence of their image will make some people pay attention. Perhaps they think that because if that wasn't true, they wouldn't be celebrities.

Please, tell us more about "most celebrity egos". If you knew any celebrities, you'd know that almost across the board, they're incredibly smart, patient, and kind. You have to be, to keep a healthy perspective on all the strangers who get their kicks passing this kind of baseless, anonymous judgement on you.

You don't like the spot? Ok. That doesn't mean the people in it are vain, or that you're better than they are. In fact, your comment suggests quite the opposite.

[Seven7s]

Poor Halle; managed to act terribly on a commercial smh New low.

Anyway, I dont see why people always say, "I DONT CARE WHAT CELEBS THINK!" Like you're some kind of anti-Famous rebel gang member fighting against some injustice.

Its like the redneck version of the fat girl in school that teaches herself to hate the pretty girl because secretly she wants to be them.

They are Americans too and if anything their position on someissues is even more admirable because as rich as they are they should be voting McCain. Since Obama is about to tax the super rich.

I dont get why people are so anti-celebrity opinion. Jealous nobody except for Huffington Post posters care what you think?

[falco]

Because it's called "an appeal to authority" and it is wrong. It's a ploy to make you think these people, whether celebities or royalty or politicians, have some kind of corner on the truth. Spin it as anti-celebrity if you want, but what you don't know about these people would fill a big book. Research the issues yourself and decide for yourself. Don't give your power to anyone else!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_authority

[steve-annie]

Huh?? Did you read your own citation? This is no "appeal to authority" unless you actually believe these celebrities are authorities on civic duty. These are just individuals expressing the opinion that voting is a good idea. Do you find that controversial in some way? Do you think the young people this PSA was aimed at need to "research the issue" of whether voting is or is not a good idea?!

[dagdavid]

Does Leo DiCaprio have to choose between health insurance and food? Does Halle Berry worry about how she'll make the mortgage payment? Does Jennifer Anniston wonder how she's going to be able to fill the gas tank to get to work? Does Dustin Hoffman have to take his kids to the emergency room because they don't have insurance? When people are hurting, they don't want Hollywood talking down to them, as this ad so clearly does.

This is not "anti-celebrity", as so many celebrity-obsessed posters argue. I like the film and television work of many of these actors, but celebrities live in a world entirely different from every day people on almost every level. No, their lives are not perfect, but most Americans would give their arm to exchange problems with Jennifer Anniston. When celebs do something like this they are giving themselves more credit than they deserve. If your kid does not know how important it is to vote, then you have failed them as a parent and Halle Barry ain't gonna be your surrogate.

[rmetz74]

They're not giving themselves undue credit. They're doing what they can do to help. Like it or not, people pay attention to what celebrities say and do. If they didn't, People magazine and its many clones would be out of business. You don't like the ad? Ok. You're not the target audience.

No, they don't have to choose between health insurance and food. (They do have to choose between a career and a private life, but that's another discussion­.) What they have is a sense of compassion. You should try it.

[enoughofthiscrapalready]

Ugh - more self gratuitious "celebrity lecture" videos..Zz­zzzz.

[karma namdak]

And another thing... Maybe anybody so APATHETIC and STUPID that they can't be bothered to register should NOT vote. Why do we want lazy, disinterested, jaded brats determining our future? They'll only end up voting for who it's "cool" to vote for. Obviously they can't make a rational choice... or else they would have been voting in the first place without anyone "daring" them to do it!

[Owlygirl]

YES. The great dilemma, isn't it? Do we really need or want to trust people who freaking need their hands held and butts pushed to the polls? I think not. But I find I have a good deal of resentment towards people who do nothing to educate themselves and participate in either local or national elections, and yet when crisis strikes they are crying out for help and raging at the machine. Do you know what I mean? This democracy thing only works when the whole of the people are involved, invested and fighting to have a say - not sitting back on their lazy asses and letting the world go by. God, the selfishness and ignorance of people in the United States of America never ceases to annoy me. We have SO MUCH to be grateful for in this amazing country and all of it is worth fighting for. Jeezus.

[biglover]

I guess it depends on who you are whether you have so much to be grateful for in this amazing country. Just ask the native americans and the african americans who up until now haven't had so much to be grateful for..

[karma namdak]

Ok, I got to say... this is annoying as hell! I DO NOT CARE WHAT CELEBRITIES THINK!

Why are they so convinced that they're any smarter or better informed than the rest of us?

So condescending and egotistica­l...

[SharonB]

I agree with you, even if doing so makes us part of Susan Kelley-Stamerra's "bickering hoarde".

[rmetz74]

Then you're not the target audience. (Neither am I.)

But a lot of people, as ridiculous as some of us think it is, ARE influenced by celebrities. That's why companies pay so much for their endorsements. And why People magazine (and all the clones) sell as well as they do.

I don't think making those videos means they think they're better or smarter than the rest of us. That's a pretty huge assumption on your part - I actually know some celebrities, and they're generally very nice people. I just think they know some people are swayed by celebrities, and they want to do whatever they can to help - even at the risk of making other people assume and say nasty, presumptuous things about them.

Maybe they think - as I do - that a major increase in voter registration and turnout is well worth the annoyance of a few celebrity videos. Hate 'em? Don't watch 'em. Problem solved.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

THIS VIDEO IS WORST THAN THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN :)

[Dancer]

And some wonder why blogs are made fun of or disrespect­ed...YEGOD­S...given that most people don't know the difference between a "blog" and a "comment" and the fact that oh, so many people use comments just to show how CUTE or IGNORANT they are...I don't wonder that it is difficult to attract more people into the blogospher­e...

[CaptainHowdy]

Voting is for the weak minded.

The choices have already been made. Those that are really in power would not dare leave such choices to the unwashed masses.

The rest is merely theater, designed to maintain the illusion of freedom of choice.

[Swedishgal]

Sometimes I think like you do but I still have to do what I need to so that in case I'm wrong I'll have made a difference. If McCain wins by some very small chance right now then I'll know for sure the fix is in.

[naviline]

Precisely.

[kuastar]

I hear my voice in yours. So I say to myself, "kuastar, overcome your cynicism and vote as a feel-good thing. And remind my friends A, B and C to register."
I hear my voice in yours harboring self-defeating prophecies. So now I have a better chance of overcoming them.

[skateboy30]

I have a pit in my basement with Sarah's name on it.

[CostaDelBarto]

You have a pit in your basement called "Mooselini"?

errrrm ok.

[skateboy30]

I meant Silverman not Palin

[CaliforniaGirl4OBAMA]

I thought it was effective and would appeal to young people. I don't know why anyone would be critical of this video. They were not paid to do this. Why do rightwingers hate Hollywood, but love corporate greed? Whatever it takes to get out the vote is fine with me. It wasn't partisan in the slightest. Dems don't try to suppress the vote, unlike the repubs. I don't get all the celeb bashing.