Like it or not, we live in an age of “cancellation.” Any individual with a public presence can and will be held accountable for their decisions on social media. Rapper Kanye West’s infamous remarks on the Alex Jones Show and the immediate wave of backlash that followed is perhaps the most memorable example of recent times. Ye’s praise of Hitler, the culmination of a prolonged string of anti-Semitic remarks, appeared to be the final blow to a figure seemingly invulnerable to and almost invigorated by controversy. However, even quite possibly the worst single statement a public figure could make was not enough to topple West from his heights in the music industry. Despite a highly publicized falling out with Adidas and ostracization from major record labels, he nevertheless topped charts internationally with his 2024 album Vultures 1.
So what can we take away from Kanye’s continued success, in spite of an increasingly inflammatory catalog of public remarks? What does his survival in a highly sensitive political landscape say about a culture that supposedly holds public figures accountable for their words and actions?
It’s that maybe, deep inside, we don’t really care. It also begs the question of whether we even should.
Kanye West’s sustained relevance is only one of many examples that conflict with the public’s supposed emphasis on accountability. Regarding public expression of opinion, many other public figures have faced pushback for comments deemed politically insensitive or problematic. Podcaster and comedian Joe Rogan, one of the leading figures in the podcasting industry, has stared into the abyss of cancellation countless times for his political views. His vocal distrust of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, disapproval of male-to-female transgender athletes competing against cisgender women, and hosting of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones are only a handful of his many controversies as the host of the Joe Rogan Experience. J.K. Rowling, the renowned author of the Harry Potter series, is none too unfamiliar with the threat of cancellation either; she has repeatedly come under scrutiny for her views on gender identity and her unrelenting adherence to them. And President-elect Donald Trump–well, what is there to say that hasn’t already been said?
The wave of cancel culture, while having inflicted varying degrees of damage on all three individuals’ reputations, has failed to achieve its purpose of definitively eliminating their influence. While Rogan has indeed lost credibility amongst a notable share of the public, the Joe Rogan Experience remains the most popular podcast on Spotify by a country mile. Rowling, even after almost voluntarily dismantling her public image, still boasts a timeless legacy and a loyal fanbase. Perhaps the most mind-boggling of all is Trump, who recently pulled off the “greatest political comeback in American history”. The most prominent targets of cancel culture somewhat succeeding in standing their ground poses the question of whether it is actually holding public figures accountable.
This question loops back to the matter of whether we genuinely care about accountability as much as the most vehement advocates of cancellation would suggest. Quite frankly, the facts point in the opposite direction. While the right-wing media often frames cancel culture as the downfall of America’s political integrity, the results betray the phenomenon’s true force–it’s not nearly as formidable as Fox News needs it to be to fit their agenda.
That being said, claiming that people don’t care at all would be gross hyperbole, as can be observed in the lasting blemishes inflicted on countless individuals’ reputations throughout recent years. However, the current age is that of ever-divisive political discourse; what some consider to be unforgivable is viewed as laudable by others. When a man who shamelessly accuses immigrants of eating their neighbors’ pets on national television still manages to win the keys to the Oval Office, almost anything is fair game—one side of the aisle believing they’re acting in just does not necessarily equate to the persuasion of the opposite end.
We should care. Regardless of agenda or degree of personal investment, we should all take the time to mull over whether certain behaviors are problematic or not. But not like this. Holding someone accountable for their words or actions should not translate into witch hunts based on a set agenda. The most obvious problem lies in the namesake–the term “cancel” itself is far too aggressive to hold credibility. It suggests a sense of moral superiority, a holier-than-thou mentality that serves no purpose in a political climate as tense as it is now. It is simply impossible to will someone out of relevance through self-righteousness.
Of course, condemning explicitly anti-Semitic remarks is by no means wrong–some matters just happen to be black and white. But even Ye’s behavior deserves some nuance; while he has never embodied moral excellence, it is also quite clear that he has experienced significant mental turbulence in recent years. Ye has openly discussed his diagnosis of bipolar disorder in his work and interviews. His former chief of staff claims that Ye’s personal dentist has been supplying him with nitrous oxide for recreational use, allegedly leading to addiction and brain damage. Does this justify West’s anti-Semitism? Of course not, but the main takeaway is the possibility of context when it comes to even the most extreme cases–nuance and pragmatism are key.
Cancel culture holds substantial weight in the current political and cultural spheres. The threat of being canceled looms over everyone, not just those with platforms. But such a chilling effect is not what America needs right now. This one-dimensional trend of suppression is counterintuitive, serving to render significant portions of the population indifferent, in turn fostering heightened polarization and turmoil. For the good of America and all it stands for, we must turn away from cancellation and look towards compromise.
Featured Image: Time Magazine
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