Jake Paul and all the other celebs on Twitter who need to shut up

Twitter remains the platform where public figures often reveal more than intended. During the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death, several celebrities posted statements that drew immediate criticism for missing the moment or offering little substance. The pattern of rushed, low-effort commentary stood out against the scale of the demonstrations.

Some posts leaned on vague positivity or defensive positioning. Others asked followers to supply information they could have researched themselves. The examples below highlight posts that landed poorly at the time and the documented context that surrounded them.

Jake Paul

The YouTube personality built a brand on spectacle, and his 2020 activity during the Arizona protests followed the same pattern. Footage showed him and associates near a mall where looting occurred. Paul posted that his group had not taken part and had only been filming. Authorities later confirmed no charges were filed against him in the case.

His earlier tweets offering mental-health advice, such as telling people to simply stop worrying, had already drawn pushback for oversimplifying anxiety. The mall incident added to questions about how he used the protests for content.

Wiz Khalifa

The rapper posted a message focused on sending positive energy. Critics viewed it as another example of surface-level statements that avoided direct engagement with the issues protesters raised. Similar platitudes appeared from multiple accounts and were quickly called out for offering comfort to the poster rather than addressing policy or accountability.

Kylie Jenner & the would-be activists

An Instagram chain circulated among several high-profile names, including Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and Cara Delevingne. The posts were brief and largely visual. When Jenner was questioned about her silence on the movement, she replied that she had already posted. Observers noted the chain required minimal effort and functioned more as a gesture than sustained support.

Keke Palmer

Palmer posted in defense of the phrase “All Lives Matter,” which many activists argued diluted the specific focus of Black Lives Matter. At the same time, she participated in Los Angeles demonstrations and publicly urged National Guard members to join marchers. The mixed record showed how individual statements could complicate an otherwise active presence at protests.

Marina Diamandis

The singer tweeted that police work attracts people with mental-health issues. Critics pointed out that the claim linked mental illness with violence and ignored documented patterns of excessive force. The post was later cited in roundups of statements that conflated unrelated topics with police accountability.

Katie Griffiths

Griffiths posted a self-aware disclaimer before sharing an opinion that still drew criticism for its content. The approach illustrated how framing a statement as reflective did not necessarily improve its substance or timing during a period of widespread protest.

Doja Cat

Doja Cat asked followers to supply photoshopped animal hybrids while protests continued. The request stood out for its detachment. In the same period she faced separate backlash over alleged participation in racist chat rooms and an older song that used a slur referencing police brutality victims. She denied involvement in the chats but apologized for the song.

Broader Celebrity Social Media Trends in 2020

The individual examples fit into larger campaigns that drew scrutiny. The #ITakeResponsibility videos featured white celebrities reciting lines about privilege in a format that required little follow-up. #BlackoutTuesday posts placed black squares in activist hashtags, which some organizers said reduced visibility for information about bail funds and safety. Compilations from Business Insider and BuzzFeed tracked dozens of comparable posts across accounts with large followings.

Long-Term Impact of 2020 Celebrity Statements

After the initial wave of criticism, outcomes varied. Jake Paul faced no charges in the Arizona case. Doja Cat addressed the 2020 allegations publicly and issued a partial apology. Other figures, including Terry Crews, encountered separate backlash for tweets that questioned aspects of the movement. The period left a record of which accounts adjusted their approach and which continued similar posting habits.

Social Media Platforms and Activism Effectiveness

Twitter amplified both support and criticism at high volume. The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag recorded more than 160,000 daily tweets at its summer 2020 peak. Pew Research later noted that over half of a decade’s worth of BLM-related tweets occurred between May and September of that year. The speed of circulation meant tone-deaf posts were documented and shared quickly, creating lasting screenshots even after accounts deleted or edited content.

Doja Cat's Evolving Social Media Presence

Doja Cat’s later activity on the platform continued to generate discussion. In 2025 and 2026 she posted high-profile rants that included direct commentary on public figures such as Elon Musk. Coverage from that period documented ongoing fan reactions and debates about consistency between her earlier BLM-era statements and subsequent online behavior.

The 2020 examples remain useful as a record of how quickly public statements can be tested against events on the ground. Platforms reward speed, yet the same speed preserves missteps for later review. Several of the accounts listed here continued to post through subsequent years, giving readers repeated opportunities to compare stated positions with later actions.