A poll conducted by Harvard University has found that 64 per cent of Americans agree that there is a “growing cancel culture” that poses threats to their freedom.
Data released to The Hill also revealed that 68 per cent of respondents believe that cancel culture is a moderate-big problem Americans are faced with. Just 13 per cent disagree that it is a problem at all.
The study was conducted by the university in collaboration with The Harris Poll, taken from a sample of almost 2,000 people.
Cancel culture remains the subject of endless debates on the likes of Fox News. In recent months they have become devotees to preserving the sanctity of children’s TV characters whilst advocating for the cancellation of Cardi B in the same breath.
This survey is also a timely given the fallout of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Oprah Winfrey interview.
Piers Morgan has been keen to frame himself as another “victim” of cancel culture since breaking the OFCOM complaints record following his remarks about Meghan Markle’s mental health.
It’s unclear how he reached this conclusion, given the platforms he has been given in the aftermath.
He described the similar departure of his friend Sharon Osbourne from US daytime show The Talk as “woke cancel culture bulls*t” in a tweet that now has over 40,000 likes.
What’s happened to @MrsSOsbourne is an absolute disgrace that shames CBS. Bullied out of her job for defending me against an invented slur of racism because I don’t believe a liar. In tomorrow’s Mail on Sunday, I’ll tell MY truth about this woke cancel culture bulls*t. pic.twitter.com/9m4QPEkmD3
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 27, 2021
Over half of respondents said they were concerned about the impact their social media use might have on their job security.
Critics of this study have interpreted its findings through a racial lens, arguing that those in fear of cancel culture are likely to be white people that wish to face zero consequences for their actions.
Remind you of anybody?
Otherwise, can be read as: “64 percent view ending white supremacy as a threat to freedom” #CancelCulture #EndWhiteSupremacy https://t.co/ucdORP2VIQ
— Priti Nemani (she/her/hers) (@pritinemani) March 29, 2021
64% of people must be white…and they do understand consequences, but they only want them for non-whites.
— dre (@MotownDR) March 29, 2021
They seem to think freedom means freedom from social consequences. E.g. A person is free to act like a racist but their employer is free to fire them for it. This is not cancel culture but rather enforcement of social norms, action and reaction.
— Chris B (@ChrisBEsq) March 29, 2021
There is also the argument that Americans have greater, tangible threats to face.
Nevermind actual threats to freedom like the ever-increasing police/surveillance state or voter suppression or laws to crackdown on assembly/protest or the chilling of free speech and suppression of independent media by big tech. It’s definitely cancel culture omfg 64% are idiots https://t.co/QWavzGLzqZ
— praxis papi (@purelypraxis) March 29, 2021
The data doesn’t disclose any political leanings, but one look at Twitter tells you that Republicans appear more likely to weaponise that sort of language.
Floridian Senators, for example.
Never surrender to cancel culture.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 24, 2021
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has previously gone as far as saying it has “infiltrated” America’s schools.
Cancel culture has infiltrated our schools and threatens the freedom of speech that millions of Americans fought to protect at our Nation’s founding. It has no place in America.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) March 23, 2021
The complete results of the survey will be released this week.
*story by Indy100