Disarming Cancel Culture

     One phenomenon in the broad landscape of social media has been the rise of cancel culture, which is the outcome of halting support for an individual based on their controversial words or actions.  But is this what really happens in the aftermath? Surprisingly, the clash between celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and the outspoken Vegan Teacher was a massive success, with not only one but both sides gaining popularity over the controversy.

    The battle between the two individuals began when the Vegan Teacher criticized Gordon Ramsey for his dietary choices about eating animals.  However, her arguments devolved into personal attacks over time, calling him as the "devil" and a "psychopath".  Unsurprisingly, the Vegan Teacher received backlash from her criticism of Gordon Ramsey, with most of her videos receiving a massive dislike ratio and hateful comments.    

    However, what's striking is Ramsay's response - or lack thereof - to the onslaught.  Instead of engaging directly with the Vegan Teacher's criticism, Ramsay mocks the Vegan Teacher - creating a short of attempting to appeal to her by eating lettuce, and then spitting it out and eating a beef burger instead.  This short was very successful, receiving praise and respect from the comments that effectively disarmed the Vegan Teacher's attacks.  His actions showcased a refusal to succumb to the pressures of cancel culture, demonstrating that strength and resilience can undermine its power.

    Ironically, we see a similar beneficial outcome for the seemingly "cancelled" Vegan Teacher.  After Gordon Ramsay's response to her attacks, her channel skyrocketed in popularity and viewership. The Vegan Teacher's relentless pursuit of attention underscores a crucial aspect of cancel culture: its reliance on spectacle.  Despite receiving widespread criticism, she persisted and ignored the tension of cancel culture to boost her online presence.

    Ultimately, both individuals demonstrated resilience, strength, and courage to disarm the pressures of the online community.  It was their refusal to cave into cancel culture that buffered their online careers from the harmful effects.  Disarming cancel culture has always been simple - just never show a sign of weakness.



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