Fact Check: Did the election commission fine Lady Gaga for endorsing Kamala Harris in 2024?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the speculations surrounding former vice president Kamala Harris running for the 2028 elections, a rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has fined Lady Gaga and several other artists for being paid to endorse Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Claim: Federal Election Commission fined Lady Gaga for endorsing Kamala Harris
According to the viral claim, the FEC has concluded its investigation into campaign finance violations against Lady Gaga and several other artists who supported and endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024.
The viral post states, “The commission issued a $2.5 million fine to Lady Gaga for being paid to endorse a political candidate with campaign funds without disclosing it.”
"It's considered a deceitful practice under federal law," FEC Director Jon Raebro allegedly said, "Anyone with a following could sell themselves to the highest bidder."
The post concluded by stating, “Gaga will also be referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal charges.”
Fact Check: False, the claim originated as a satire
However, there is no evidence that the FEC has been investigating Lady Gaga or any other celebrities for violation of campaign finance or has issued a fine for being paid to endorse a candidate.
The claim that Gaga was paid to endorse Harris was denied back then.
"We do not pay. We have never paid any artist and performer," said Adrienne Elrod in 2024, who held the position of senior adviser and senior spokesperson for the Harris campaign, in her communication with Deadline, according to a report from The New York Post.
The claim that Gaga will be referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal charges is also baseless.
A search on Google for the above-mentioned statement by the FEC commissioner yielded no results, and no news media outlets have quoted Raebro making those remarks.
Moreover, the claim was posted by a parody account that states in its bio, “Nothing on this page is real.”
Kamala Harris signals openness to 2028 presidential run
The claim surfaced as Harris has reopened the door to a potential White House comeback, telling an audience in New York that she is actively weighing whether to enter the 2028 presidential race.
Her remarks, delivered during a public conversation at the National Action Network convention on Friday, April 10, mark one of her clearest acknowledgments yet that another campaign is on the table.
Pressed on her political future by Al Sharpton, Harris didn’t dismiss the idea of running again; instead, she leaned into it.
