Cancel Culture vs. Accountability: Are we really doing it right?

You have seen it everywhere—Twitter mobs with their revenge trending hashtags, Instagram outrage on comments section saying cancel her or cancel him, because in 2010 this person has commented something bad so cancel him now in 2024, or TikTok trends where people are either being cancelled or “held accountable” for something they said or did. But here is the million-dollar question: Are we getting it right, or is this a toxic trend that we need to rethink & redo?

The Rise of Cancel Culture

Let us talk about cancel culture for a minute, especially for the unversed. It started with good intentions, right? Holding people accountable for harmful behaviour, especially when it comes to issues like racism, sexism, or harmful stereotypes. But somewhere along the way, it took a turn. Now, it is not just about accountability but about shutting people down. Boom. You are done. No questions asked.

Take, for instance, the cancellation during the Met Gala of this year 2024, influencer Haley “Baylee” Kalil made a TikTok showing off her costume per the theme & said “Let them eat cake” I noticed that the internet hounds Hailey Beiber & many others particularly female celebrities such as Taylor Swift who boast of a massive fan following but its followed by a massive number of haters who hate her for dating someone, I mean this same scrutinizing lens that is put on women celebrities are not put on male celebrities like Leonardo di Caprio & many more celebrities. As per a report on an article online, women celebrities get 2. 25 % more sexist tweets than male celebrities.

Yes, cancelling should be done for the right & correct reasons & only to the ones who have no chance at redemptions, something like Diddy do it?

The Problem with No Redemption

Here is the thing: accountability is necessary. But should it always come with a permanent stamp of disapproval? Not really. Think about it—when did we become a society that celebrates & enjoys tearing others down instead of trying to build them up? When did we stop believing in growth, change, forgiveness and in redemption where redemption & change is possible?

I mean, are we all saints?

The Accountability Disconnect

Now, do not get me wrong—accountability is KEY.

Look at how quickly people jumped on Elizabeth Olsen, Chloe Bailey, Pete Davidson, Selena Gomez, and Hailey Bieber, for something that did not quite warrant the massive backlash they received.

what is the real goal? Should the goal be about punishment, or should we be encouraging people to do better? & be better?

The Line Between Cancel and Accountability

If we are cancelling people for minor mistakes or misunderstandings, aren’t we just creating a society of fear and paranoia? Isn’t accountability supposed to be about growth, not punishment?

Recent Examples—Are We Getting It Right?

Let us bring it home with some examples, shall we? Kathy Griffin, Sharon Osbourne, Ellen DeGeneres, Ellie Kemper, Jimmy Fallon, and Chrissy Teigen all have faced the wrath of social media

Remember Janet Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction during the Superbowl? Both Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake apologies, the public called it a “nipplegate” ! CBS, MTV and the NFL all apologised the very next day, But it was a far bigger nightmare for her than for Timberlake, something he acknowledged during a 2006 interview with MTV, when he said he probably received 10 per cent of the blame that critics hurled at them, citing gender and race as factors for the disparity. We live in a world where cancel culture can feel like it is thriving off outrage. But can we learn from mistakes if we are not given space to grow?

The Final Word: It is All About Balance

Here is the bottom line, folks—balance is everything. Let us start focusing on growth, not just punishment.

So, what do you think? Are we really holding people accountable, or are we just cancelling everyone who messes up?

Let me know your thoughts—slide into my DMs on instagram or leave a comment, because trust me, we are only getting started on this conversation.