A former Democratic fundraiser is accusing Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign of leaning on celebrity buzz to inflate rally crowds, arguing in a new book that rumors involving Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny were used to generate excitement that the campaign itself could not produce.
Lindy Li, described by Headline USA as a former major DNC fundraiser who reportedly raised millions for Joe Biden and Harris, makes the claim in Unburdened: A Former Democrat Insider’s Shocking Account of Political Power, Betrayal, and Party Collapse. The book, published by Harper, is scheduled for release on Sept. 22.
Li Says Celebrity Speculation Became a Crowd Tool
According to an excerpt reported by the New York Post and cited by Headline USA, Li wrote that “Team Harris wielded celebrities as crowd-wrangling bait,” calling the tactic a “tacit admission.”
Li’s account begins with the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where online rumors circulated that Beyoncé would perform on the final night, Aug. 22, during Harris’ acceptance speech. Beyoncé did not perform.
Li alleged that the campaign benefited from the speculation and that supporters were left disappointed when the singer failed to appear. In the excerpt, Li argued that younger voters in particular were led to expect a major celebrity moment that never came.
Houston Rally Also Draws Scrutiny
Li also pointed to Harris’ Oct. 25 rally in Houston, where Beyoncé did appear but did not sing. Instead, the singer delivered brief remarks introducing Harris.
Li wrote that the campaign again “dangled Beyoncé” before the crowd, only for attendees hoping for a performance to get a speech instead. Headline USA also cited social media posts from the time claiming some attendees were frustrated that Beyoncé did not perform.
Those posts are not the same as official campaign records or independently verified crowd surveys, but they match Li’s broader allegation: that celebrity anticipation helped build turnout while creating expectations the campaign did not meet.
Final Rally Rumors Included Swift and Bad Bunny
Li’s book further claims that Harris’ final rally before Election Day benefited from speculation that Taylor Swift or Bad Bunny might appear. Instead, Katy Perry performed at the pre-election event.
In the excerpt, Li portrayed the episode as part of a broader pattern in which online speculation, celebrity branding and campaign optics worked together to pull people into rallies before voters discovered the expected stars were not there — or not performing.
The Harris campaign’s side of the story is not included in the supplied source material. Li’s claims are allegations from a forthcoming book, amplified through excerpts and reporting, and should be treated as one former insider’s account unless corroborated by additional records or campaign comment.
