Final Project

Cancel Culture & Free Expression

In today's digital world, cancel culture has become a powerful force its capable of taking celebrities and influencers from the height of their careers to severe public disapproval. Today I am going to be to be discussing cancel culture and free expression specifically in online spaces like YouTube and social media platforms. Cancel culture is similar to a mob mentality in everyone honing in on the accused party. Cancel culture has become one of the most influential and controversial aspects of the digital age. It refers to the widespread practice of withdrawing support -- whether socially, professionally, or financially -- from public figures after they have or possibly have not done or said something offensive or problematic. While it began as a tool for the everyday people of the world to hold powerful people accountable, cancel culture has evolved into a complex cultural phenomenon that raises questions about free speech, accountability and online shaming. Cancel culture is impactful in shaping both public perception about celebrities and influencer and personal careers. 

First I am going to be answering the question what is cancel culture. Public figures are currently highly affected by internet culture. Influencers and celebrities can go from being praised and idolized to suddenly face harsh backlash, mass unfollowing or even the loss of brand deals due to actions, statements or controversies that spark outrage online.

Secondly I am going to be talking about how this topic relates to Media and Society and our class. Through cancel culture we witness how media creates a space for public judgment and accountability weather its a journalists covering a scandal or influencers posting an apology video. At the same time, it raises concerns about censorship, mob mentality and the future of free expression. 

Thirdly I am going to be speaking on who is affected by cancel culture which in the U.S. wealthy, high-profile figures like celerities, influencers and politicians people who are in the public eye are disproportionally affected by cancel culture. Its impact bleeds into every race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. People of color and LGBTQ+ individuals can sometimes face more severe consequences or scrutiny online compared to others even when they are accused of similar behavior. Geographically cancel culture is most active in Western, English-speaking countries especially in the U.S. which is where it originated. In the US social media trends heavily shape news and public opinions. 

Fourthly I am going to be talking about 3 examples of how cancel culture affected people in real time. The first example is how the State Library of Victoria in Australia canceled its Teen Writing Bootcamp in March 2024 claiming "child and cultural safety". This is an example of a political cancellation. The cancellation of the bootcamp follows backlash over several invited writers' support for Palestine, sparking accusation of political censorship. The scheduled authors, including Omar Sakr and Jinghua Qian had pro-Palestinian political views. Prominent Australian authors boycotted the decision, arguing it violated freedom of expression. This controversy raises the questions "When does cancel culture cross into censorship". Another example is Kanye West's fall from fame. Kanye West has faced a long spiral of cancellation that started in 2022 after he made antisemitic comments during interviews and on social media. West has faced a series of cancellations, the most notable are making antisemitic remarks and praising Hitler in a 2025 Twitter rant. He also defended music artist Diddy against sexual assault allegations. He later claimed the tweet was a "social experiment" but continued to defend his views which resulted in a massive financial loss including loss of sponsorships and had a $2 billion drop in net worth. Brands like Adidas, Balenciaga and Gap cut ties with West. This cases shows how media and public backlash can have not only reputational but severe financial consequences for celebrities. The last example is the British TV personality Gregg Wallace being accused of making inappropriate sexual comments on the set of MasterChef UK where he was the host in early 2024. Though he denied intending to offend anyone, the incident sparked a wider conversation about workplace conduct and whether cancel culture serves justice or unfair punishments. He stepped down from his role as host on the show as an investigation began.

One of my favorite sources of current cancel culture is the Cancelled Podcast with Tana Mongeau and Brooke Schofield in this podcast they talk about a lot of current celebrities, influencers and internet personalities that have been cancelled and there involved knowledge on it as well as there own cancellations because they have plenty of there own. The podcast includes funny and thought provoking takes on the cancellations. It also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to face public shaming or backlash in the age of social media. YouTube has an amazing amount of "apology videos" from people getting cancelled and having to apologize for there actions. These "apology videos" are often filmed in a plain room, with sad music and sometimes tears from the accused. Influencers like Shane Dawson, James Charles and Tati Westbrook have all posted videos of this kind some there apologies where accepted others worse things came about for them after there video. Searching terms like "influencer apology video" or "YouTuber gets cancelled" will show just how routine this ritual of making these kinds of videos has become. These videos highlight the performative side of media -- where sincerity and PR collide. 

Cancel culture is a complex, double-edged sword it can bring accountability, but it can also encourage public shaming without people's actions being actually checked for factuality. And it isn't going away anytime soon. Whether it is a tool for justice or a digital witch hunt it continues to shape who gets to speak and who is pushed into silence. As media consumers it's vital to ask the question "Are we encoring justice or silencing voices?" Ultimately media has immense role in shaping public stories, especially during cancel culture moments. It fascinates me how quickly someone can go from being adored to hated, all due to viral posts, trending wastage, or a resurfaced video. 

References: 

Nanji, Noor, and Felicity Baker. “Gregg Wallace Steps Aside from MasterChef as Host as Allegations Are Investigated.” BBC News, 28 Nov. 2024.

Maruf, Ramishah. “Corporate America Is Canceling Kanye West.” CNN, 25 Oct. 2022.

“Writers Puzzled after State Library Victoria Cancels Workshops.” The Guardian, 6 Mar. 2024.

Vogels, Emily A. “Americans and ‘Cancel Culture.’” Pew Research Center, 19 May 2021.

“Is Cancel Culture Effective?” Pegasus Magazine, 20 Oct. 2020.