That comment about my favorite singer changed my tune on cancel culture

I was defending a musician I loved who got called out for old tweets, but then I read a thread from a Black fan who explained how those jokes actually made her feel unsafe at his shows. She linked to a 2017 interview where he doubled down, not just an old post. My mind shifted because I realized it wasn't about one mistake, it was a pattern he never fixed. Has anyone else flipped their opinion after seeing a specific victim speak out?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_palmer204d ago

Jump in and look at the pattern, not just the single clip. In my experience with people in public life, what gets them in trouble isn't one bad take its the fact they kept doing it until somebody finally recorded it. The doubling down is what kills it for me. I've had customers tell me similar things about artists they liked, and once they saw the video or read the thread showing a repeated behavior, they couldn't unsee it. Your mileage may vary, but when someone shows you who they are multiple times, believe them the first time.

the_zara4d ago

My friend Sarah used to be all about this indie band until she saw a video of the lead singer mocking a fan with a disability on stage from like 2015. She showed me the clip, it was him laughing at a girl in a wheelchair who was just trying to get his attention. Sarah said she cried because she'd been to three of their shows and never knew he was that cruel to someone just for existing. She sold all her merch on Facebook marketplace the next day and told me she couldn't listen to their music without feeling sick now. Made me realize how one clear example of someone getting hurt can really change everything.

paigep204d ago

Devil's advocate here, but one old video doesn't always tell the whole story. People can genuinely change in ten years, and maybe he's donated to disability charities or apologized since then. Your friend's feelings are totally valid, but I just don't think one clip is enough to throw away all the good that band's music brought her.