18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Cancel culture strikes again for Love Island contestants - but does it really work?
Being 'cancelled' has become a public ritual - but is it truly fair to punish people for their past mistakes? We explore cancel culture, public accountability and what it means to be 'forgotten' in digital form
Being ' cancelled ' has almost become the norm for those in the public eye. From musicians and influencers to even politicians, very few manage to escape unscathed once old tweets and controversial comments resurface - leading to job losses or a decline in fans, no matter how long ago they were made or how much they claim to have grown since.
In the past few weeks, Love Island contestants have found themselves in the firing line over derogatory and racist comments. First it was Yulissa Escobar, kicked off the US version of the show just two days after a video of her using the N‑word resurfaced online. Then fellow contestant came Cierra Ortega was removed from the show after an old picture surfaced showing her using a slur.
Back in the UK, old tweets by contestant Helena Ford recently came to light, including one from over 10 years ago, which read: 'All I can hear are these f**king foreign dickheads.' Viewers have called for ITV to remove her, yet she remains in the villa.
But it's not just about reality TV contestants. For many, cancel culture has become both a tool of accountability and a source of conflict - one that millions actively participate in online, even as they question whether it's gone too far.
Is cancel culturejustifiable?
Many believe cancel culture is a recent phenomenon, with some even dismissing it as a symptom of an overly 'sensitive' generation. But the idea of ostracizing someone for bad behaviour has been around for decades, going back as far as the 1990s.
The phrase 'cancel culture,' however, gained mainstream traction in the mid‑2010s, particularly with the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017, which brought a surge in public accountability for sexual harassment and assault.
In a 2024 study published in Acta Psychological, researchers Cheselle Jan L. Roldan, Ardvic Kester S. Ong and Dhonn Q. Tomas explored how Gen Z engage with cancel culture.
'Cancel culture places a spotlight on issues, such as sexism, racism, and abuse, that may push or encourage people to become informed on the gravity and nuances of the issue itself,' they observed.
But they also warned that 'cancel culture easily becomes a slippery slope towards cyberbullying, especially for teens, as the act may narrow down the path to empathy and forgiveness towards the errant individual or organisation.'
Does cancel culture work?
While cancel culture aims to hold people accountable for harm, it doesn't always achieve its intended outcome - particularly when individuals have wealth, powerful fan bases, or iconic brands behind them.
Take J.K. Rowling, who faced backlash for her views on transgender people. Yet the Harry Potter franchise continues to generate significant revenue. Rowling is even working on the new TV adaption of the popular series.
And sometimes, fans choose to separate the art from the artist entirely refusing to give up what someone's work means to them, regardless of their personal views.
The internet does forget
As much as we're told 'the internet never forgets,' that isn't entirely true. Under UK GDPR law, individuals actually have a right to be forgotten, also known as the right to erasure, this provision allows people to request the removal of their personal data under certain circumstances.
Cancel culture will likely always spark debate. Every situation is different - but can we truly hold someone accountable for a mistake they made as a child? And how do we tell the difference between a mistake and someone's true character?
