Cancel culture refers to a group of followers or fans ‘withdrawing’ their support for a public figure after they have spoken or acted in an unacceptable way. This can be after an interview, a social media post or after being accused of any form of harassment.
Modern celebrities are no strangers to cancel culture. One wrong move and it’s like the walls collapsing around you, impacting your credibility, career and financial situation.
How Common Is Cancel Culture?
It’s no secret that having a public platform comes with high levels of scrutiny. Whether it’s tabloids or social media, celebrities and influencers can quickly find themselves under fire for the wrong comment. So much so, that an insurance policy, led by crisis management PR company Borowski PR and underwriting company Samphire Risk, has officially launched.
This coverage is designed to help influencers and celebrities quickly respond to any backlash, and includes a 24/7 hotline as well as 60 days of high-level support to combat any negative media or social media coverage. The policy also covers things like misinformation, deepfakes and blackmail – perfect for celebrities and influencers who want to apply that extra level of protection to their work.
Mark Borkowski, a PR professional who developed the policy, spoke to the FT about the impact social media can have on reputations. He commented “sharing or liking a tweet can bring the whole world down on you” showing just how easy it is to tarnish a career with one misstep. (Source: FT)
Recent Examples of ‘Cancel Culture’
Lizzo
After being sued by her former backup dancers for alleged bullying and harassment, Lizzo’s reputation came crashing down around her. Once a leading voice in inclusivity and female empowerment, the law suit alleged that she body shamed her dancers and created a toxic environment to work in on her music tour.
She received further backlash in March 2024 after performing at Biden’s re-election fundraiser. She since announced she was taking a break from the public eye. (New York Post)
Blake Lively
During the press tour of her latest film ‘it ends with us’ – Blake Lively ruffled feathers after her press interviews saw her acting condescendingly to journalists. This caused tabloids, media outlets and internet trolls to dig out historic interviews where she was also rude to journalists interviewing her, as well as co-stars she sat beside. No surprises then, that she was ‘cancelled’ for this behaviour and has had to battle a press storm ever since.
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J K Rowling
Billionaire author J K Rowling is constantly causing a Twitter storm with her posts, which are labelled as transphobic by the LGBTQ community. Rowling has been outspoken against gender reassignment surgery for young people, arguing that it causes more damage than good.
This has led her to be ‘cancelled’ by the community, with many people boycotting her books and films.
Kanye West
I know what you’re thinking – when isn’t Kanye West involved in some kind of controversy? Ye has been cancelled multiple times on social media, and was even locked out of Instagram and Twitter after posting antisemitic tropes. This caused him to be dropped by Adidas, the company that creates his Yeezy footwear.
The Financial Impact of ‘Cancel Culture
One of the reasons that the insurance policy is so smart, is that cancel culture doesn’t just affect a celebrity’s reputation, but their finances too. Cancelled celebrities are vulnerable to losing endorsement deals due to perceived reputational damage, cancelled performances and even losing viewers.
In fact, when signing celebrities up for brand deals, companies will regularly protect themselves with clauses that allow them to withdraw the contract if the celebrity is embroiled in any scandal.
But this can affect entire careers too. Ellen DeGeneres who was accused of creating a toxic work environment, saw a drop in viewers of her show. This ultimately led to the show being cancelled in May 2022 and Ellen stepping down from her post as a hostess.
Whilst some may argue that celebrities should be held to a high standard due to their public influence, others have questioned whether cancel culture has gone a little too far.
Can Insurance Help Combat Cancel Culture?
The introduction of cancel culture insurance policies is a smart move. In the digital world, celebrities and influencers are constantly at risk of reputational damage. In fact, some have even had social media posts from the past dug up, that are 5 or 10 years old, causing them to be cancelled with no prior warning.
These insurance policies act as a safety net, preventing the information being spread further. Like with any crisis management, quick responses and risk assessment measures can make all the difference when trying to combat cancel culture quickly.
As social media continues to grow, these insurance policies will help celebrities protect themselves and their careers from the unpredictable nature of public opinion.