3 Things To Know: Fewer Americans Following Israel-Hamas War in the News, Consumers Respond to Brands That Partner With Controversial Celebrities

by | Oct 15, 2024

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1. Americans aren’t following the Israel-Hamas war as closely; support for a ceasefire has grown, however.

One year after the October 7 attack on Israel, CivicScience tracking shows the percentage of Americans who are following news about the Israel-Hamas war decreased by 11 percentage points year-over-year, with those following it ‘very closely’ dropping significantly. That said, support for an immediate ceasefire has increased by four points since last October. Additionally, while a strong majority (82%) remain concerned about public displays of antisemitism, that percentage has declined slightly from October 2023.1

2. Local TV news stands out as a key source of news in weather emergencies amid the aftermath of Helene and Milton. 

The recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton have caused devastating impacts for the Southeast U.S. over the past month. New CivicScience data show nearly 1-in-3 Americans report they were impacted by severe weather over the past week, unsurprisingly led by those living in the South. 

The back-to-back strong hurricanes highlight the importance of news updates and information during weather emergencies. In the event of a weather emergency like a hurricane, Americans are most likely to turn to local TV news for news updates, followed by a weather app. Far fewer turn to other sources such as national TV news or local radio, although Gen Z is twice as likely as the Gen Pop to turn to social media.

Access the full Weekly Pulse Report to see additional data, broken down by age.


Let Us Know: Do you watch the weather on your local news?


3.  A majority of Americans are less likely to support brands they enjoy if the brand aligns with a public figure they dislike.

Scandals and controversies involving popular artists are nothing new, but their impact on fan loyalty remains a topic of debate. According to new CivicScience data, 60% of U.S. adults say they find it more difficult to enjoy art from an artist who has been involved in a scandal or expressed views they are morally opposed to. Baby Boomers are more likely than younger Americans to find it hard to separate art from artist.2

While celebrity endorsements can benefit brands, celebrity scandals can also lead to consumer backlash against brands associated with them.  More than half of consumers, led by Americans 55 and over, say they are less likely to buy products from a brand that is associated with a public figure they dislike or strongly disagree with.


Weigh in: Are you more likely to buy a product endorsed by a celebrity or a social media influencer?


Want the full story? CivicScience clients receive exclusive access to the data in The CivicScience Weekly Pulse report, plus even more in-depth insights.

  1. 7,023 responses from 10/25/2023 to 10/09/2024 ↩︎
  2. 2,242 responses from 10/07/2024 to 10/10/2024 ↩︎
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Photo Credit: Toa Heftiba (unsplash)