Have you ever heard the phrase “Let them eat cake”?
Although there’s no evidence of these words being spoken, it’s linked to the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette.
And even though the phrase may have been misquoted or misrepresented, it was used to emphasise the extravagance that Marie Antoinette indulged in and the detachment from the economic hardships of the common people.
Both Marie Antoinette and her husband King Louis XVI, seeming indifferenc to the suffering of their people, added to the fuel of a society who where facing much social, economic and political injustice, and contributed to, what we now know as the French Revolution.
Both Maire Antoinette and King Louis XVI became symbols of the excesses and inequities of the French monarchy.
You might be wondering why I’m giving you a history lesson from the 18th Century… well it’s because history has come to repeat itself.
How a phrase sparked a new people’s online revolution:
Last week, was the Met Gala. It’s not something I personally care for but something happened that fueled a new revolution, with scary similarities to the French Revolution.
The Met Gala is a an exclusive, invite-only event, available only to personalities who have fame and a lot of fortune. (especially with tickets being $75,000 USD each).
There is a strict theme and attendees are expected to dress to impress in artistically extravagant ways.
One such attendee was influencer, Haleyy Baylee.
Haleyy wore a Marie Antoinette inspired grown and posted a TikTok and used an audio sound that said “Let them eat cake”.
Here’s a TikTok stitch shared about the video which also goes a little more into the Met Gala theme too:
The exuberance of the Met Gala, the extravagance of the event, and the astronomical amounts of money used to host and attend the event showed a massive gap between so-called elites and the common people.
Couple it during a time of much social, financial, and political injustice around the world…
For example, the genocides, happening in Palestine, West Papua New Guinea, and the Congo. Not to mention the massive financial struggles people are having to feed and shelter their families.
There was even a protest to support the people of Palestine outside the doors of the Met Gala!
They knew, but like Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, they didn’t seem to care. Even with all their power, with all their influence, with all their privilege, and all their money… they didn’t care.
This, for many, was the final straw.
The Hunger Games
As a result, the Met Gala has likened to The Hunger Games.
The attendees of the Met were citizens of the Capitol with all the riches, power, and excess of everything, while the other people formed the starving districts that have to fight to the death for the pleasure, enjoyment and benefit of the people in the Capitol.
Many TikToks have surfaced linking images of the Met Gala to images of people suffering in Palestine with and audio from the Hunger Games. Here’s one:
CONTENT WARNING- the images in the video are distressing and include children and the deceased wrapped in cloth. Please watch as your own disgression.
The War on Classism and Elitism
Seeing the stark contrast between the middle & lower-class citizens of the world with the upper class and Elites has spoken volumes to many people.
Classism and Elitism are both categories within the privilege system that operate to define a hierarchy of people with people at the pinnacle being labeled as the better and people at the bottom being labeled as lesser.
Classism is…
based on the prejudice or discrimination of people based on their class.
Elitism is…
the belief that people of the higher class are superior and more deserving than those of the lower classes.
Conversations around having privilege, power, and platforms and not using them to support social justice or positive social change, are being had, among so many important related topics.
You may not see much of this on Facebook or Instagram, due to the tight relationship Meta has with these elites, but the conversation is certainly flowing on TikTok, has in-fact started an online peoples revolution to let elites know that admiration and attention (which translates to money) isn’t a given to people who take from the world but are not willing to give back to it.
The #Blockout2024 Revolution
For the second time in history, the words associated with Marie Antoinette
“Let them eat cake”
has contributed to the fuel of another people’s revolution with people on TikTok calling to block celebrities who are not using their power, their privilege, their money, or their influence to speak up or support social justice or human rights. In particular, about the genocide underway in Palestine right now.
There is a call to block their social media & company profiles and boycott buying their products.
Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI both faced the guillotine during the French revolution for their lack of care for their subjects, it seems that many celebrities (who are often viewed as royalty with their subjects being their followers) are now facing a digital guillotine, a dig-o-tine of sorts.
Our attention and focus is a commodity that helps to funnel money and social standing, class, and power to celebrities, so blocking them and boycotting their products is a way of preventing money and attention (and therefore power) getting into the hands of people who engage in elitism and simply don’t care about innocent people who are facing disgraceful denials of their basic human rights .
Some celebrities have lost millions of followers because of #blockout2024. Yesterday I saw that some have lost as many as 9 million followers.
What’s the lesson?
There are a few lessons to learn here:
- Globally, we care about people & humanity and are ready to take action to ensure people’s human rights are met.
- No amount of money or fame excuses you from doing your part in caring for other humans around the world. Especially if you have the means to do so.
- The people are no longer going to idly follow and idolise people, their business or their purchase their products if they aren’t harnessing their privilege, influence, power and platforms to speak up about social injustices.
- The power is with the people. Yes, the power is with you.
If you want to hear more about the #blockout2024 revolution or you want to know what you can do as an individual or business owner to support social justice in your community and within other communities around the world, get in touch with me on Facebook or Instagram.
Many actions can be taken but the best and most effective one for you to take will be specific to you.
The world is changing to one that is more, kind, more caring, and more inclusive and I’m totally here for it. Are you with me?
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship for online business owners.