Caught by Cancel Culture

Why These Celebrities Were Called Out

Remember The Dixie Chicks? According to them, they were one of the very first targets of “cancel culture.”

The rise of “cancel culture” and the idea of cancelling people have become controversial topics of debate in the last decade. What usually happens is this: a celebrity, public figure, or any kind of famous person, does or says something offensive. Next, there is a massive public backlash that sparks on social media. Lastly, the calls to “cancel” the person and effectively end their careers or revoke their influence begin, whether through boycotts of their work or demands of disciplinary action from an employer.

Now, with all that cleared up, let’s explore who’s been called out by cancel culture:

1. The Dixie Chicks, cancelled in 2003

During a March 2020 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Dixie Chicks — Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer — discussed their early career and the effects of being banned by country music stations as a result of Maines’ comment during a 2003 concert regarding the US invasion of Iraq. She said, “We don’t want this violence, this war, and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.” That statement, which didn’t sit well with many of their fellow Americans, is what cost them their careers, and essentially led them to being one of the first victims of cancel culture’s claws.

Today, Maines shares, “I think we were one of the first people to feel that cancel culture… It can really ruin people’s lives.” Read more in ETCanada's article, or watch their March 16 interview with Ellen.

2. Gina Rodriguez, cancelled in 2019

In 2019 alone, the list of people who’ve faced cancellation includes entertainers like Kanye West, Scarlett Johansson, and Gina Rodriguez, who all had offensive foot-in-mouth moments. In October 2019, Rodriguez, famously known for playing the title character on the CW show Jane the Virgin, published an Instagram story of her singing the N-word to the Fugees song "Ready or Not.” This really was the last straw for Rodriguez’s fans. Since 2016, she’s had a reputation of making anti-black comments and playing the victim when it’s time to apologize. Considering this wasn’t her first offense in regards to POC, no one, and I mean, NO ONE, was having it!

3. Kevin Hart, cancelled in 2019

Comedians experience their fair share of cancel culture, as they often use race or sexual orientation as the butt of their jokes. Kevin Hart, notably, faced public backlash early on in 2019, after his old homophobic tweets resurfaced online. A few days later, after not wanting to apologize, Hart inevitably stepped down from hosting the 2019 Oscars, so that he wouldn’t “be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists.”

4. Shane Gillis, cancelled in 2019

This comedian was cancelled because of multiple racist jokes he was known for making, targeting people of Asian descent in particular.

Bowen Yang, Shane Gillis

His racist bits reappeared on social media after he was hired as a cast member on SNL around the same time as Bowen Yang, who is openly gay and the first Asian cast member in SNL history. Viewers and fans didn’t think Shane Gillis deserved to be there, and cancel culture did its thing! He was rightfully fired from SNL after the jokes resurfaced.

See some videos on this Twitter thread.

5. Taylor Swift, cancelled in 2016

Many people have tried to cancel Taylor Swift during her remarkable 15-year career. Notably, after the release of Kanye West’s song “Famous” in 2016 which references having sex with Swift, Swift said she didn’t approve of some of the lyrics. When a phone call recording posted by Kim Kardashian showed Swift agreeing with the lyric choices, she was targeted by the cancel claws, despite her defense that Kim’s video was manipulated and taken out of context.

In her new documentary Miss Americana, Swift recalls being “cancelled” as a “very isolating experience,” and says, "I don't think there are that many people who can actually understand what it's like to have millions of people hate you very loudly.”

However, Swift is still singing and thriving, despite the millions who deemed her annoying and cancelled four years ago. Funnily enough, this feud was revisited this week when the full video of Swift and West's phone conversation leaked online. It basically vindicated Swift and made it clear that she was telling the truth the whole time: she never agreed to being called "that bitch" in the song.

Swift reacted to the leak by posting on Instagram:

And she added a link to various charity organizations supporting those on low income in the whole COVID-19 global pandemic. Kardashian responded by going on a Twitter rant.

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These 5 cases, a tiny portion of the multitudes of celebrities, influencers, and public figures who’ve been caught by cancel culture at least once in their careers, all bounced back. Although some truly deserved to have their influence revoked and others not as much, the fact that cancel culture is so temporary in nature makes us all wonder if it’s really worth it.

What do you think, CULTURVERSERS?

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