Olivia Rodrigo interrupts her Columbus set to hand flowers to Amy Acton as the candidate faces a controversial ad campaign from Vivek Ramaswamy
Nothing like a celebrity endorsement.
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo made a bold statement in the middle of her Columbus concert on Friday, October 30, 2026, by handing flowers directly to Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. According to The Hill, this happened while Rodrigo performed her number Stupid song at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.
The singer walked through the excited crowd to reach Acton and shared an embrace with the candidate. It was a clear show of support in what has become a very tight race for the governor’s seat. Rodrigo also made her political stance visible throughout the evening by wearing an “Amy Acton for Governor” shirt. She sported the shirt during her set while performing songs from her album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.
Acton noticed the gesture and expressed her gratitude on social media. “Ohio loves you,” Acton wrote on X, while also posting a photo on Instagram of the singer wearing the campaign gear.
This public display of support arrives as Acton deals with a highly controversial ad campaign
The campaign was launched by Acton’s opponent, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, who calls her daughter a “liar” and claims she is not fit for office. This ad sparked significant backlash from both political parties. Even Ohio’s current Republican governor, Mike DeWine, called for it to be taken down.
The situation surrounding the ad involves Acton’s personal history. Her stepfather was charged with sexually abusing her when she was a young child. Acton was removed from her mother’s custody at age 12. Her campaign said that Acton’s mother remained with the stepfather until his death. According to Billboard, Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, spoke out against the ad in a strong statement.
“It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at 12 years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point,” Stearns said. He added, “This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core — a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants.”
While the ad ran for millions of dollars in airtime across the state, it has since been pulled after completing its cycle. The race remains extremely competitive as the state approaches the midterm election on Tuesday, November 3. President Donald Trump has been active on the campaign trail to support various candidates, including Ramaswamy. Meanwhile, election forecaster Decision Desk HQ suggests that Acton has a 61% chance of winning the election.
Rodrigo is no stranger to being vocal about her political views
She has often focused her efforts on reproductive rights. After a draft opinion of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson leaked, she spoke out during a concert. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about how heartbroken I am over the Supreme Court’s potential decision to overturn Roe v. Wade,” she told the crowd at that time.
The singer also recently raised $20 million for women’s health during an August benefit concert, and she held an inaugural event called the Daisy Chain Fields festival where attendees could register to vote. Her history with political engagement includes standing up to the federal government in the past.
When the Trump administration used her music in social media videos about immigration enforcement, she publicly condemned the action. She later explained that she feels the administration tries to bait pop stars into responding to their content.
The upcoming midterm election is shaping up to be a significant event for the country. It will decide the results of many local races, 35 Senate seats, and all 435 seats in the House. Some analysts suggest that Democrats might make gains in the House, as many voters across the nation have expressed frustration with high gas and commodity prices. These economic pressures have been linked by some critics to the tariffs and the war in Iran under the current administration.
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