Ethical Dilemma: Cancel Culture
Characteristics
People concerned
Youtubers/Bloggers/Podcasters
Celebrities/Actors
Social Media Influencers
Political Figures
News Reporters
Examples/Cases:
Kevin Hart was disinvited to host the Oscars after tweets surfaced with homophobic statements saying he didn’t want his kids to grow up gay.
Rosanne Barr was fired from her show because of a racist tweet likening a former advisor to President Obama to monkeys.
Colin Kaepernick has been unable to sign with any team in the National Football League because he refused to stand for the national anthem.
Hate/Insults
Social Ostracism
Bullying/social exile on social media
Public Backlash
Loss of jobs
Questions:
Is cancel culture about politics, social status, social justice, respect, basic human rights ?
Are they based on personal beliefs, social norms or core values ?
Is it ethical to "cancel" someone? Do those people truly learn from their mistakes or do they merely silence themselves to avoid backlash
Chris Harrison stepping down as host of the Bachelor after defending a contestant who participated in plantation and antebellum-themed parties
Is it a toxic online trend or a way to hold people accountable?
What can someone be cancelled for? Rumors, Allegations, Facts, Past or Present ?
Causes of Cancel Culture
Activists/News Editors
CEOs, Lawyers, Tech Moguls, Producers
J. K Rowling facing intense criticism on Twitter after tweeting about insensitive and transphobic beliefs
James Charles, a beauty influencer and Youtuber getting cancelled after numerous sexual assault and child molestation allegations
Ethical Issues of Cancel Culture
sexual assault or rape allegations/confirmed cases
racially insensitive comments or outright racism
sexism
nepotism
radical political views
criminal record
pro-life/anti-abortion views
fraud, lobbying, coercion cases
Cancel Culture according to ethical philosophers and critical thinkers
Movements associated with Cancel Culture
MeToo Movement
NotAllMen Movement
What is cancel culture?
Not wearing a mask/travelling during a pandemic
Indivudals that get cancelled are ostracized
People lose brand deals, sponsorships, their platform, their job
Society becomes more divided
They are shunned/disinvited from events (sports events, red carpets, family gatherings, social acceptance)
Brands/Clothing companies
Black Lives Matter Movement
Racist/sexist/homophobic/transphobic/xenophobic comments
Can be found in someone's past (tweets, pictures, videos, recordings, articles)
What can we say about the media's role in cancel culture?
What groups or communities benefit from cancel culture ? Who has the right to cancel someone else ?
cancel culture influences and controls the media and society's way of absorbing, presenting and spreading information
Lori Loughlin who got cancelled after the college admissions scandal where she bribed USC to get her daughter admitted rather than based on her own merits
What would ethical philosophers such as Kant, Mill, Rawl and Dewey say about cancel culture in our society ?