In a generation raised by technology, I assume that you’re familiar with the term ‘Cancel Culture’. This refers to the practice of withdrawing support for public figures and companies after they’ve done or said something that is considered offensive.
Social media platforms, commonly TikTok and X, spread fake news quicker than chickenpox at Chilly Kiddy’s, making it impossible to sort the facts from the fiction. Anyone who posts an opinion or targeted comment on social media must be prepared to be held accountable, however, the lengths that people will go in order to end someone’s career is completely excessive. Angry mobs of bored teenagers will scavenge for a reason to cancel someone and hunt for uneducated tweets from 2013, where social media’s purpose was different. Many young people believe that cancel culture is ruining social media and our generation – while some argue that it’s threatening freedom of speech.
A recent example of cancel culture is the global artist Lizzo, known for emitting female body confidence and radiating positivity. Three of her former dancers publicly accused Lizzo of sexually and racially harassing them, causing mass uproar on social media. Lizzo remained publicly silent once Asha Daniels, aged 35, revealed to NBC News that “I was listening to this black woman on this huge stage have this message of self-love and caring for others and being strong and standing up for others” and “I was witnessing myself, the dancers and the background vocalists and my local team in every city be harassed and bullied regularly” (taken from NBC News article written by Diana Dasrath and Tim Stelloh). While devastated fans tore up their posters and unfollowed her, those in constant search for an argument body-shamed and racially abused Lizzo, using the allegations as an excuse to be vile. The sad reality of cancel culture is that half of the people getting involved do not care about doing the right thing and just want to vent their own personal frustration. In no means should the allegations against Lizzo be dismissed or ignored due to her position of fame; more bullying is never the answer. It’s also crucial to distinguish a clear line between a court case and a silly misunderstanding online. Lizzo eventually addressed the accusations in August 2023, denying involvement in any abusive or pressuring behaviour. Interestingly, allegations against Lizzo have not been through court as it stands, so is it right for her to be cancelled at this current moment? With this being said, sympathy must lie with those who have chosen to address the situation, as it takes a lot of courage to speak out about serious matters like this.