Author JK Rowling is one of those who have fallen foul of ‘cancel culture’. — AFP pic
Author JK Rowling, for comments deemed deeply insulting to transgender people; YouTuber Shane Dawson, for old videos of him in blackface; and singer Lana Del Rey, for a controversial Instagram post contrasting herself with black artists, have all been caught in the wave. The academic was one of roughly 150 personalities from the world of arts and sciences to sign a letter published on the Harper’s magazine website earlier this month that complained that cancel culture was restricting debate.
The video, posted on Twitter, has been viewed some 45 million times amid widespread outrage, and Cooper was quickly fired as her company tried to distance itself from the anger. Critics dismissed the letter as powerful people — several of whom had been cancelled themselves after using their platforms to express controversial or offensive opinions — complaining of backlash when people disagree with them.