Cancel Culture: Collective Justice or Modern-Day Witch Hunt?
Have you ever heard about "canceling" someone? Judging them based on a single mistake? Or seen the comment sections on TikTok?
Cancel culture is thriving, and many people believe they’re serving justice. However, the reality is far more complex and often harsher than we’d like to admit.
Society takes pride in being empathetic and caring—removing “bad influences” in the name of progress.
But is it truly justice? Or are we mistaking outrage for progress?
What Is Cancel Culture?
The term cancel culture gained popularity around 2016. As defined by Britannica, it refers to withdrawing support from individuals, groups, or companies due to opinions or behaviors that others find offensive. It usually unfolds on social media, where posts, hashtags, and videos snowball quickly into online trials.
But just because someone wore a shirt with a questionable sign—does that automatically make them a bad person?
Take a look at older films, interviews, or lyrics. Creative freedom was less restricted years ago. Of course, racism, sexism, and discrimination are wrong. But who really benefits from the kind of extreme sensitivity we’re seeing today?
According to a 2021 Pew Research Center report, 58% of Americans see cancel culture as holding people accountable, while 38% believe it punishes people who don’t deserve it. That alone shows just how divided society is over this issue.
Source: www.pewresearch.org
The Rise of Oversensitivity on Social Media
In many ways, cancel culture and social media go hand in hand. People are constantly sharing opinions—some helpful, but most unsolicited and negative. As a defense mechanism, society has responded by becoming hypersensitive.
But let’s be honest: is canceling someone over a curse word or for simply dating someone really helping anyone?
A strong example of this hypersensitivity is when Suga of BTS (a globally popular South Korean boy band) was caught riding an electric scooter while drunk, the reaction was intense. Some fans sent funeral wreaths to his agency, a dramatic and culturally symbolic way of expressing disappointment. Others called for his removal from the group altogether. No major harm was done, yet the outrage exploded instantly—proving how cancel culture can sometimes go way too far for relatively minor issues.
Cancel Culture Examples:
When It Goes Too Far
Some situations justify public backlash. Abuse, racism, or sexual misconduct? Yes—those deserve consequences. But what about canceling people just for their opinions?
Let’s talk about J.K. Rowling, who faced cancel campaigns over her views on gender and transgender issues. You can disagree with her. But does that mean we should try to erase her entire legacy?
We forget that people are allowed to have different thoughts. Cancel culture and freedom of speech often clash, but they shouldn’t. Disagreeing isn’t the same as silencing. The goal should be respectful dialogue, not destruction.
Recently, the Korean girl group Kiss of Life faced intense backlash and cancellation over an alleged case of cultural appropriation during a livestream. But was it really the girls’ fault—or the management’s? The internet quickly canceled the members, even though they might have simply been following instructions. At the very least, they should have been given the chance to apologize. Everyone deserves the opportunity to take responsibility and grow. Unfortunately, cancel culture often denies that chance.
https://www.tiktok.com/@divestudios/video/7227161262717816066?
More Examples:
How Cancel Culture Plays Out
The situation is slightly different in cases of Soojin, formerly of (G)I-DLE, and Kim Garam, formerly of LE SSERAFIM. Both idols were accused of school bullying, allegations that quickly spread online. Despite her denials, Soojin was put on indefinite hiatus and eventually left her group in 2021. Kim Garam was removed from LE SSERAFIM just weeks after debuting amid overwhelming public backlash. These examples highlight how quickly cancel culture can act in K-pop—often leaving little room for explanation or redemption. Whether accusations are proven or not, the court of public opinion frequently decides the fate of idols, sometimes permanently ending promising careers.
But cancel culture isn’t limited to K-pop or South Korea. In the West, famous figures have also been “canceled” over allegations or controversies that severely damaged their careers.
A strong example of this is Ellen DeGeneres. After reports surfaced about a toxic workplace environment on her show, she apologized publicly. Still, as The New York Times reported, her show lost over a million viewers—43% of its audience—before ending in 2022. Despite efforts to shift the narrative, the public had already made up its mind.
Another case is Travis Scott. After the tragic events at the 2021 Astroworld Festival, he faced immense backlash. Though he was not criminally charged, the internet erupted with anger over how the event was handled. His public image took a serious hit, and many fans canceled him online. Brand partnerships were paused or dropped, and it took him months to start rebuilding his reputation.
Kevin Spacey also faced severe professional fallout after multiple sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2017. He was swiftly removed from House of Cards, and his scenes in All the Money in the World were reshot with another actor. Since then, his career has largely stalled.
Similarly, Shia LaBeouf faced accusations of abuse and inappropriate behavior by several women. The backlash damaged his career and reputation, although he has been working to rebuild his image.
These Western examples mirror the dynamics we see in K-pop: public opinion can rise to judgment quickly, leaving little room for nuance, apology, or redemption.
Pros and Cons of Cancel Culture
Just like most things in life, cancel culture isn’t all good or all bad—it comes with its own set of pros and cons.
Pros:
Encourages accountability.
Calls out abuse, racism, and injustice.
Empowers victims and marginalized voices.
Reinforces social values.
Cancel Culture Cons:
Leaves no space for apologies or growth.
Destroys careers over single mistakes.
Silences freedom of speech.
Turns social media into a courtroom without context or facts.
Cancel Culture and Freedom of Speech: A Delicate Balance
Let’s not forget—cancel culture and freedom of speech are often in conflict. In the rush to condemn, we forget that not everyone has to think like us. Respecting opinions doesn’t mean agreeing. It means listening without immediately attacking.
Social media moves fast. A 3-second clip taken out of context can go viral in minutes, leading to massive pile-ons that can end careers or damage reputations. The truth? We don’t always get the full story.
So, What Should We Do?
We need to learn the difference between accountability and destruction. Some people deserve to be called out—but they also deserve the opportunity to apologize, to explain, and to grow.
Cancel culture is not black and white. It’s a massive gray area that depends on context, intent, and impact.
Are we creating change… or just canceling each other into silence?
