Evaluating Cancel Culture In Times Of Change
Should we cancel it too?
by MYKENNA MANIECE ★ JUNE 29, 2020
To “cancel” someone in our current climate means to stop supporting them and their work, but really the concept of “cancel culture” is much more nuanced than that. Typically, celebrities and other public figures are “canceled” by the masses after sharing controversial opinions, or after previous wrongdoings are brought to the world’s attention. That being said, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has caused many to re-evaluate how productive “cancel culture” is during times of change, specifically when considering the actions of ordinary people. Is there a difference in the spectrum of “canceling” celebrities and civilians? When do we allow room for mistakes? When has someone gone too far?
Public figures:
The larger your platform is, the smaller the margin of error becomes. When a person has a significant social media following, they automatically have the power to influence massive audiences just by making a few clicks. This is why celebrities, influencers, and other public figures should take care to articulate their words and evaluate content before posting. However, this concept of exercising caution is not an excuse or pass to remain silent during times of injustice- people with platforms should continue to use their voice for good. With this in mind, let’s take a look at a few celebrities who have been in hot water recently and evaluate how they’ve handled the controversy.
Madonna:
Credit: Twitter (@Madonna)
Fans were quick to criticize this Tweet from Madonna, which features a video of her son David dancing to Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us.” Though her intention may have been to “honor” George Floyd and call attention to racism in America, many believed the post was tone-deaf, insensitive, and reminiscent of Kendall Jenner’s infamous 2017 Pepsi commercial. With responses ranging from, “You definitely forgot to read the room, sis” to the sarcastic “Wow. Racism is gone. Thank you girl.” it’s easy to see how messages can be misconstrued online. Since the Tweet, her Twitter feed has largely been composed of video clips related to the movement, highlighting the words of Malcom X, Angela Davis, Muhammad Ali, and Trevor Noah—just to name a few. Madonna also posted pictures of her and her children attending a Black Lives Matter protest in London. Though she never released an official apology for the video, it seems like she has attempted to use her platform to spread more educational content.
KJ Apa:
Credit: Twitter (@kj_apa)
Riverdale actor, KJ Apa, was called out for his social media silence by rapper and comedian Elijah Daniel. Apa previously starred in the movie The Hate U Give—a story specifically about the effects of police brutality—which led fans to question his lack of interaction with the issue. He responded by saying, “I support Black lives - but I don’t feel it’s necessary to prove to people I do by posting my attendance at these protests.” Fans were quick to criticize his response, stating that posting isn’t about proving anything - it’s about raising awareness and educating his 2.1 million followers. Twitter users suggested posting links to petitions, donating, or simply sharing a few words rather than remaining totally silent. Apa has not Tweeted anything since his June 14th reply.
Virgil Abloh:
Credit: Teen Vogue
The Off-White CEO and artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear came under fire for his comments on looting as well as for publicizing his $50 donation to Fempower. After designer Sean Wotherspoon posted footage of his looted stores on Instagram, Abloh commented, “This disgusts me… We’re part of a culture together. Is this what you want??” He then took to his own Instagram account and posted photos and videos of other stores looted in Los Angeles with the caption, “Our own communities, our own shops… this shop was built with blood sweat and tears.” He then posted the above image on his Instagram story to show his $50 donation to the Miami-based bail fund, Fempower. His followers immediately took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration with his behavior. Several Twitter users noted how expensive individual Off-White items are in comparison to his $50 donation. Abloh responded to the controversy with apologies on Instagram and Twitter.
Only time will tell if these celebrities will be truly “canceled” in the eyes of the public, but it’s safe to say that each of them has an opportunity to grow from their mistakes if they’re willing to take it.
Private figures:
Average people are also finding themselves “canceled” after racist social media posts resurface online. Skai Jackson, known for her roles on Disney’s Jessie and Bunk’d, has recently taken to Twitter to expose teens who have used racial and homophobic slurs online. A typical exposé Tweet includes the person’s name, social media handle, highschool/college, and the video or screenshots of their offense. Jackson has even called on her followers, Tweeting “If you know a racist, don’t be shy! Tweet me the receipts.” While some have accused her of doxxing the teens, Jackson stands by her actions, telling Entertainment Tonight, “I’m not exposing anything that’s private -- that’s one thing I won’t do. Everything that is said is public information. You posted these videos, it’s out there to be public.” Her efforts on social media have brought real consequences to some of the offenders, with colleges like LSU, TCU, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Rowan University, and Pace University responding to the allegations on Twitter. Reactions have been mixed to say the least; while some continue to praise Jackson for using her platform for good, others believe she’s ruining lives and should take a different approach toward educating such individuals.
Credit: Twitter (@skaiijackson)
When do we allow room for mistakes?
The examples listed above hopefully help to show that “cancel culture” is a nuanced issue; how the public responds to each incident varies on a case by case basis and there’s clearly a spectrum to how society responds. Ultimately, the goal is accountability. Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner and publicist Sandrine Charles recently founded the Black in Fashion Coalition which aims “to address systemic racism and discrimination in the fashion and beauty industries.” Wagner told Business of Fashion, “We want to allow people to rise to the occasion of changing,” meaning that companies can collaborate with the coalition to create more diverse work environments. They’re considering it a shift from “cancel culture” to “accountability culture.” Activist Dr. Angela Davis echoed a similar sentiment while speaking on a panel for Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk, stating, “This is a moment when we can share, and learn, and think, and converse.” With words like these, maybe we’ll begin to see a decline in “cancel culture” and a greater understanding of genuine mistakes.
Instagram user @domrobxrts recently posted a thread about canceling cancel culture. In her post, she offers the following reflection questions to ask yourself before canceling someone:
Am I giving people the benefit of the doubt, from their posts?
Am I more committed to exposing/canceling someone, than teaching them why they’re wrong?
Do I give the same grace for others that I give myself when I mess up?
Has the person I’m canceling seem to have made an honest effort towards change?
She later clarified on her Instagram story stating, “I believe people need to be [held] accountable for their crime aka rapist, murders, etc. My post is more so focused for people who are trying to/want to become allies, but because of mistakes from their past people don’t give them room to grow. I’m also not saying you have to forgive anyone. AND Black people don’t owe ANYONE ANYTHING.”
This is a time of learning and growth, and we’re all capable of recognizing the difference between a mistake and something of malicious intent. We share a responsibility to hold each other accountable for our actions; it’s how we’ll continue to push forward with this movement. Ultimately, we must determine for ourselves if “canceling” someone is productive, or if there’s a better way to facilitate change.
Sources:
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/virgil-abloh-looting-comments-blm-donation-apology
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/willow-smith-cancel-culture-red-table-talk
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/black-in-fashion-coalition
Cover photo credit: NBC News