Pop star Olivia Rodrigo, 23, recently hosted the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival, a project dedicated to supporting women-focused non-profits that have faced significant funding cuts under the current administration. The event successfully raised $10 million, a total that was subsequently matched by Melinda French Gates, bringing the overall contribution to $20 million. The festival served as a platform for female artists to unite for reproductive justice, taking a proudly feminist and openly political stance.
This initiative follows a pattern of activism for Rodrigo, who has consistently utilized her platform to address social and political issues. In 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, the then 19-year-old musician condemned the decision on stage at Glastonbury. Additionally, the Filipino American singer previously demanded that the Trump administration cease using her music in what she described as “racist, hateful propaganda” after a track was featured in a government video targeting undocumented immigrants.
Rodrigo has also been vocal regarding the situation in Gaza, a topic many in the entertainment industry avoid due to potential career repercussions. She has used her social media to highlight the struggles of families in Gaza, specifically noting the lack of access to food, water, and medical care. At a press conference for the Daisy Chain Fields festival, she further signaled her support for Palestine by wearing a dress created by the Nöl Collective, a Palestinian fashion brand. Speaking on the New York Times’s Popcast earlier this year, Rodrigo emphasized that acknowledging such issues is an inherent part of her identity as an artist, stating, “I think it would just be disingenuous to be like, I don’t feel heartbroken about what’s going on in Gaza. As an artist, I feel like that’s just what you do. And that’s my job.”
The commentary surrounding Rodrigo’s activism draws a contrast with other high-profile figures, such as Taylor Swift. While Swift famously stayed quiet in the lead-up to the 2016 election, she later endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024 and stated in her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana, that she needed to be on the “right side of history.” However, she has maintained a cautious approach during Trump 2.0. Critics note that while Swift’s music was used in political posts by Donald Trump for months, she did not issue a public statement on the matter, even as her songs were eventually removed from the content. Furthermore, Swift has remained silent on contentious topics like Gaza and ICE, prompting calls for more celebrities to follow Rodrigo’s example in using their resources and reach for advocacy, regardless of the potential for public or professional backlash.
Donald Trump, the 80-year-old president of the United States, spent his weekend whining about a lake and posting memes of Donald’s Ducks. While he was busy with his ducks, Olivia Rodrigo, a 23-year-old pop star, spent her weekend trying to Make America Somewhat Decent Again. On Saturday, Rodrigo hosted the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival, bringing together female artists to raise money for women-focused non-profits which have had their funding slashed by the Trump administration. The festival raised $10m (£7.4m) which Melinda French Gates matched, bringing the total to $20m.
In a perfect world a singer holding a benefit concert for feminist charities wouldn’t be radical stuff. But we don’t live in a perfect world, do we? We live in hell. Trump has successfully bullied US institutions into doing his bidding. Universities have defunded diversity, equity and inclusion programmes, many media outlets have kowtowed to the US’s self-styled king and tech CEOs have jumped into bed with him. Women’s rights are going backwards globally and our civil liberties are under attack.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.