Perspectives: Canceling Cancel Culture

The toppling of statues, re-branding of companies and targeting of people who make controversial statements have fueled a nationwide debate about cancel culture, and both its purported value and problems. A letter published in Harper's Weekly and signed by over 100 artists and writers this week called for an end to cancel culture and the stifling of free thought; some signatories have since faced backlash for endorsing the message. Right-rated voices generally condemned cancel culture as a misguided overreaction to social injustice, and advocated for more overall attention on fostering free expression. Some left-rated voices argued that cancel culture does not threaten free speech, framing it more as righteous accountability for controversial thoughts and actions.