How PR pros should respond to ‘cancel culture’

I think PR people are predisposed to hate cancel culture. We’re in the business of promoting brands and individuals who serve brands, and cancel culture makes our job much harder to do. Also, I don’t think most PR people support “canceling” a person or brand for entertainment.

However, I propose that cancel culture is valid as a form of social accountability in this digital era. It should be for violations of significant societal norms by public figures, and not about censoring things you just don’t like.

According to a May 2021 Pew Research Center study, 49% of respondents essentially agree with me.

So, when is it appropriate or even responsible to cancel someone or something? I pondered this when watching “Allen v. Farrow” on HBO Max this week. The documentary eviscerates Woody Allen for alleged sexual assault of his then seven-year-old daughter and presents a wealth of damning evidence from attorneys and trauma experts alike.

If individuals and brands are using their platform to promote highly detrimental acts—or are misleading the public about such acts—strip them of the benefit of that platform. It’s a boycott.