The Phantom of Cancel Culture
Phantom: noun. an apparition or specter. an appearance or illusion without material substance, as a dream image, mirage, or optical illusion. a person or thing of merely illusory power, status, efficacy, etc.
This past weekend the Wall Street Journal posted a mind-boggling op-ed about whether Dr. Jill Biden should use the title of doctor because, honestly it’s too stupid to give serious consideration. Bottom line, the piece was incredibly sexist. We could talk about how such an article got posted in the first place, how many people signed off on its publication and why. But after rightful outrage at the author Joseph Epstein’s ridiculous claims, the Wall Street Journal is now blaming “cancel culture” for the negative reaction. Not, you know, the shamefully offensive thing they printed. Right.
People don’t typically think of digital media as a form of PR. But often, if not mostly, you are communicating with the public primarily through digital means. Social media is the first line of engagement, and it defines your image to the outside world.
So let’s do it. Let’s talk about the great phantom of “cancel culture”, or more specifically, how it doesn’t really exist. (Unlike ghosts. Ghosts are real.)
Due warning: this is a rant.
I’m going to use another recent example—one that cuts deep as a millennial who grew up reading her books. This past summer (and honestly years before that), billionaire J.K. Rowling exposed herself as a trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) after making a number of transphobic statements. Rowling had previously been criticized for performative allyship and her support for the casting of notably shitty person, Johnny Depp, in the underwhelming Fantastic Beasts franchise. But that paled in comparison to the criticism she faced for these newest comments.
Suddenly “cancel culture” was front-page news again. Harper’s Magazine published an open letter, signed by many high-profile writers. Rowling was emboldened and continued to spew her transphobic rhetoric on social media. It got so bad that Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, had to release a statement basically apologizing to the trans community on her behalf.
So here’s the thing, has Rowling really been cancelled? Has anyone? In order to be “cancelled”—or more likely fear being “cancelled”—you have to be in a position of enormous privilege in the first place. A position in which, historically, you’ve been able to say whatever you want, offend whoever you want, and face absolutely no consequences. Because that’s what “cancel culture” really is. Facing, mostly very minor, consequences.
For Rowling, her so-called “cancellation”, something she brought entirely on herself, might mean she makes a few less million dollars over the next few years. That’s it. And let’s be clear, Rowling hasn’t actually been cancelled. Warner Brothers will continue to work with her on the Fantastic Beasts movies, of which there are three more scheduled. Her books will continue to sell. She hasn’t been banished, or fired, or punished in any court other than that of public opinion.
In fact, more often than not we actually bend over backwards to forgive people—people that look a certain way—even when they don’t deserve it. When they are not actually asking for our forgiveness, because they do not think they have done anything wrong.
The reality is that you have to do something truly monstrous to really be cancelled. Say, spark a whole movement as a result of serial sexual assault allegations, à la Harvey Weinstein. And in that case is “cancelled” even the right word? Or is it simply restorative justice? Do we have a problem with “cancel culture” or do we have a lack of real options for holding the wealthy and powerful accountable for their actions? The problem isn’t everyday people voicing their discontent with bad behaviour. The problem is a capitalist, white supremacist and patriarchal system in which privilege absolves this behaviour in the first place.
You make multiple trans-phobic statements and people stop buying your books? That’s not “cancel culture”, that’s the public deciding not to add to your fortune because of your very bad politics. That’s exercising what little buying power we have to not support a bigot. Give me a better example. I’m waiting.
And while we’re at it, “call out culture” is also make-believe. Because, as we’ve seen time and time again, so little work can actually be done within toxic systems. Ones in which privileged individuals are reluctant to give up any form of power, to allow themselves to be held accountable, and therefore cannot be “cancelled”. It is only with the oversight of public knowledge that anything really changes.
No one should have to contend with abuse, that goes without saying. But when people complain about “cancel culture”, that’s not really what they’re talking about. The argument goes as follows: why can’t we disagree and still respect each other? Can’t we have different opinions without cancelling the other side? Yes, Karen, we can. But infringing on the human rights of a group of people is never simply a difference of opinion. And those words and actions should always be condemned.
At the crux of “cancel culture” is the privilege of not having to say your sorry. Crying “cancel culture” is simply a way of displacing responsibility for one’s actions onto those who were offended, the people you hurt. And some people are so used to never being challenged that any form of feedback is akin to being “cancelled”. It’s a strategy to delegitimize legitimate criticism.
Final point. Let’s say you screw up honestly. We all do! We all say stupid stuff or tweet before thinking. No one has to be unimpeachable. All right, cool. What next?
Take responsibility. Apologize to the people you’ve hurt, directly. Mean it. Listen. Take a step back. Educate yourself. Talk about it internally and collectively. Find ways to make these conversations safe for vulnerable team members.
Make substantial and concrete changes. You can demonstrate these steps through your digital communications, but they have to be meaningful. A recent survey from Sprout Social found that, “There’s little tolerance for performative allyship and more than half of consumers expect brands to announce new initiatives, goals and involvement in industry-wide coalitions.” More than statements, you can use social media to show how you’re putting these changes into action.
Be proactive. Change might take time, but acknowledging the issue should not. And if the image you’re presenting to the public does not align with what you’re doing behind closed doors, then you’re doing it wrong.
Follow through and I guarantee, you will not be “cancelled”. Another tidbit from Sprout Social: “89% of people say a business can regain their trust if it admits to a mistake and is transparent about the steps it will take to resolve the issue.” Because at the end of the day, “cancel culture” isn’t really a thing.
If Rowling had followed these steps instead of doubling down—even after all of the damage she caused—I have a hard time believing she would not have been forgiven. And if being cancelled means retiring somewhere nice with your millions so you can continue your shitty behaviour then... okay? It’s nothing compared to the real consequences that marginalized folks face on a daily basis simply for existing.
So keep calling out. Keep holding people accountable. Maybe one day it will finally stick and we can cancel a system in which the privileged and wealthy only face any sort of accountability for their words and actions when everyday people ask them what the hell they were thinking. Where we spend more time and energy worrying about the harassment and abuse BIPOC women, trans, non-binary and disabled folks face on a daily basis for having literally any opinion. Because when the best example for a truly “cancelled” celebrity we can come up with is Harvey Weinstein, then I think that’s actually worth celebrating.
Resources
Why we can’t stop fighting about cancel culture by Aja Romano.
Cancel Culture Doesn’t Work the Way J.K. Rowling or Harper's Magazine Think It Does by Kayleigh Donaldson.
Cancel Check: “Cancel Culture,” Abolition, and the Meaning of Accountability by Nora Salem.
Cancel Culture Is Not Real—At Least Not in the Way People Think by Sarah Hagi.