The Reel Politics of International Crisis: Benedict Cumberbatch's Appeal for Syrian Refugees.

This article examines the influence of celebrity involvement on political attitudes and behavior through an experimental study of a Save the Children charity video addressing the Syrian refugee crisis, featuring British actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The findings indicate that while the emotionally compelling video significantly increased students' positive attitudes and intentions to support Syrian refugees, Cumberbatch’s presence did not enhance these effects. Instead, celebrity involvement primarily improved viewers’ perceptions of Cumberbatch himself and served as an attention-grabbing "hook" rather than a persuasive force. The study also highlights viewer skepticism toward celebrity charity appeals, especially among male participants, and suggests that demographic factors such as gender, political ideology, and prior knowledge of the crisis more strongly influenced support for refugees. These results have implications for nonprofits and policymakers considering celebrity endorsements in advocacy campaigns.