By Jack Robert Stacey | Editor-in-Chief
Dave Chapelle, the Mark Twain Prize-Winning Comedian, has┬áfaced backlash from members of the LGBTQ+ community┬áwho accused him of making trans-phobic and discriminatory comments as part┬áof ÔÇÿThe CloserÔÇÖ, the American┬áperformerÔÇÖs┬ánew┬ástand-up┬ácomedy┬áspecial.
This month,┬áa demonstration was held outside NetflixÔÇÖs Headquarters in Los Angeles┬á(California) with protesters┬ácalling for the streaming giant to┬átake ÔÇ£accountabilityÔÇØ for┬áits actions and to remove the┬áspecial from its online content library.
Ted Sarandos, CEO of Netflix, stood by his decision to release the special. As a global platform used by audiences ÔÇ£with various taste[s], various sensibilities, various beliefs,ÔÇØ Sarandos┬árecognized┬áthat the companyÔÇÖs commitment┬áto┬áÔÇ£free artistic expression┬áis sometimes in conflict with people feeling protected and safeÔÇØ.
Critics, however, have asserted that┬áNetflixÔÇÖs commitment┬áto ÔÇ£free artistic expressionÔÇØ┬áhas provided a platform for┬áhateful or discriminatory speech,┬áespecially that which targets traditionally marginalized groups.
Although the so-called ÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ of high-profile figures and organizations has been around for hundreds of years, this ongoing debate does raise an interesting question about the current relationship between comedy, audiences, and free speech: namely, ÔÇÿShould celebrities be held accountable or ÔÇ£cancelledÔÇØ for expressing their views?ÔÇÖ
The answer to this question (and, admittedly, an exact definition of ÔÇÿcancel cultureÔÇÖ) is difficult to pin down┬áwithout┬áfirst┬áunderstanding┬áexactly what is meant by ÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ someone and, more importantly, what impact being ÔÇ£cancelledÔÇØ can have.
What is ÔÇÿCancel CultureÔÇÖ?
As a movement rooted in┬áblack culture and the rejection of┬áproblematic┬ácultural┬ánorms,┬áthe┬áact of ÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ┬áis based around the notion of holding someone┬áin power┬áaccountable┬áfor their actions, essentially┬ápunishing them by┬áÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ their harmful messages or behaviors┬á-┬áFocusing on this aspect, many┬áhistorians have likened ÔÇÿcancel cultureÔÇÖ to a modern, mass┬áform of social ostracization.
Over the last┬áfew years, for instance,┬áseveral highly influential individuals in the entertainment industry (including YouTube star Shane Dawson, author J.K. Rowling and American television Host Ellen DeGeneres) have experienced being ÔÇ£cancelledÔÇØ. As the result of this backlash against them on social media, many of these celebrities have spoken out about the impact of being cancelled.
J.K. Rowling, author of the ÔÇÿHarry PotterÔÇÖ series, was┬áspecifically┬áaccused of making┬áa number of┬átrans-phobic┬ácomments back in┬á2019┬áwhen she┬áasserted that a magazine should have the term, ÔÇ£womenÔÇØ rather┬áthan the more inclusive term, ÔÇ£people who┬ámenstruate.ÔÇØ
Proponents of ÔÇÿcancel cultureÔÇÖ, including┬áAnne Charity Hudley, the chair of Linguistics of African America at the University of California Santa Barbara,┬ámaintain that┬áthe movement┬áallows┬áindividuals┬áto┬áexercise their own power and to ÔÇ£refuse to participateÔÇØ┬áin aspects of society┬áthat they are at odds with.
To many, as Charity Hudley┬áexplains,┬áthe act of ÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ someone┬áis ÔÇ£a collective way of saying, ÔÇÿWe elevated your social status, your economic prowess [and] weÔÇÖre not going to pay attention to you in the way that we once did.ÔÇØ
In this way, however, critics of ÔÇÿcancel cultureÔÇÖ have previously asserted that the movement can therefore promote an irrational, almost mob-like mentality.
Drawing on 16th┬ácentury witch trials, critics often claim that individuals can become ÔÇ£cancelledÔÇØ for┬árelatively small┬áor minor infractions (including those committed in the past) which, as a result, potentially means that innocent people are now at risk of being unfairly punished┬á- This stance is shared several┬ácomedians and other personalities in the entertainment industry.
Discussions on celebrities who have been wrongly ÔÇ£cancelledÔÇØ (so-called ÔÇ£victims of cancel cultureÔÇØ) frequently reference┬áColin Kaepernick, a former┬áNFL┬áQuarterback who┬áwas┬áfaced┬ábacklash┬áfor kneeling during the American National Anthem┬áback in 2016.
KaepernickÔÇÖs expression of support for the┬áÔÇÿBlack Lives MatterÔÇÖ movement┬áwas met with criticism from NFL supporters and former U.S. President Donald Trump┬áfor being ÔÇ£unpatrioticÔÇØ.┬áIn addition to being┬áomitted from the cover of┬áan edition of┬áSports Illustrated magazine,┬áa number of┬áreports claim that┬áKaepernick┬áhas┬ánow┬ábeen ÔÇÿblacklistedÔÇÖ and, despite being┬áa proven athlete,┬áis unlikely to┬átake part in professional sport again.
What impact can┬ábeing┬áÔÇ£cancelledÔÇØ have on someone?
As the mass rejection┬áof┬áa celebrity or┬áhigh-profile organization┬áoften takes place on social media, its sometimes difficult to accurately gauge the impact that ÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ can have on someone.
ÔÇÿCancel cultureÔÇÖ has already proven its┬ápotential to┬áalter the way that individuals are perceived in society.
Additionally, as┬áhas already been demonstrated with the likes┬áof┬áDave┬áChapelle and┬áJ.K. Rowling,┬áthe impacts of┬áÔÇÿcancel cultureÔÇÖ┬áand┬ásocial media backlash┬áare not just limited to online spaces and, instead, can have a very real, significant impact on the livelihoods of high-profile individuals.
As a result of the public boycott targeting Rowling,┬áfor example,┬ápublishers┬áof the ÔÇÿHarry PotterÔÇÖ series┬áreported┬áexperiencing a ÔÇ£remarkably sudden and sharp dropÔÇØ in sales ÔÇô Some references to the authorÔÇÖs name have also been removed from fan sites.
Taking this into account, itÔÇÖs also important to┬árecognise┬áthat the act of ÔÇ£cancellingÔÇØ someone does, as the movementÔÇÖs critics have previously highlighted, also has┬áthe potential to┬ácultivate a┬ámass┬áÔÇÿmob mentalityÔÇÖ which may┬áfail to acknowledge the core issue in a rational┬áor fair way;┬áAddressing the controversy surrounding ÔÇÿThe CloserÔÇÖ during a recent performance, Chapelle┬áechoed this┬ápoint.
The comedian said that he was ÔÇ£confusedÔÇØ by the backlash he has received online and, speaking about his own experiences with the LGBTQ+ community, maintained that everyone ÔÇ£has been nothing but loving and supporting, so I donÔÇÖt know what all this nonsense is about.ÔÇØ
Closing off his performance, Chapelle addressed his critics directly. He maintained that whilst that he is ÔÇ£more than willing to give [the LGBTQ+ community] an audience,ÔÇØ he would not be ÔÇ£bending to any demandsÔÇØ or summons: ÔÇ£You cannot have this conversation and excuse my voice from it,ÔÇØ Chappelle concluded, ÔÇ£that is only fair.ÔÇØ
ÔÇÿCancel cultureÔÇÖ,┬átherefore, occupies┬áan interesting position┬áwithin our modern social landscape┬áand, without doubt, will continue to be a pertinent topic of debate moving forwards.
Yn┬ádilyn┬ádadl┬ádiweddar┬áyn┬ásgil┬ácomedi┬áNetflix┬ádiweddaraf┬áDave Chapelle,┬ágwelir┬áatgyfodiad┬áy┬áddadl┬ábarhaus┬áynghylch┬ádylanwad┬á’Diddymu┬ádiwylliant’┬áar┬áy┬ácyfryngau┬ácymdeithasol.┬á
MaeÔÇÖr┬ácomed├»wr┬ásydd┬áwedi┬áennill┬áGwobr┬áMark Twain,┬áDave Chapelle,┬áwedi┬áwynebu┬áadlach┬ágan┬áaelodau┬áo’r┬ágymuned┬áLGBTQ┬ásyÔÇÖn┬áei┬ágyhuddodd┬áo┬áwneud┬ásylwadau┬átraws-ffobia┬áa┬ágwahaniaethol┬áfel┬árhan┬áo ‘The Closer’,┬ásef┬ácomedi┬ástand-yp┬ánewydd┬áy┬áperfformiwr┬áAmericanaidd.┬á
Y mis┬áhwn,┬ácynhaliwyd┬áarddangosiad┬áy┬átu┬áallan┬ái┬áBencadlys┬áNetflix┬áyn┬áLos Angeles (California)┬ágyda┬áphrotestwyr┬áyn┬ágalw┬áar┬áy┬ácawr┬áffrydio┬ái┬ágymryd┬á”atebolrwydd” am┬áei┬áweithredoedd┬áac┬ái┬ádynnu’r┬árhaglen┬áffwrdd┬áo’i┬ágynnwys┬áar-lein.┬á
Cadwodd┬áTed Sarandos,┬áPrif┬áSwyddog┬áGweithredol┬áNetflix,┬áat┬áei┬ábenderfyniad┬ái┬áryddhau’r┬árhaglen.┬áFel┬árhwydwaith┬áfyd-eang┬áa┬áddefnyddir┬ágan┬ágynulleidfaoedd┬á”gyda┬ágwahanol┬ádiddordebau,┬ágwahanol┬álefelau┬áo┬ásensitifrwydd┬áa┬áchredoau┬áamrywiol,”┬ácydnabu┬áSarandos┬áfod┬áymrwymiad┬áy┬ácwmni┬ái┬á”ryddid┬ámynegiant┬áartistig┬á┬áweithiau’n┬ágwrthdaro┬á├ó┬áphobl┬ásyÔÇÖn┬áteimlo┬áeu┬ábod┬áyn┬ácael┬áeu┬ádiogelu┬áac┬áyn┬ásaff”.┬á
Fodd┬ábynnag,┬ámae┬ábeirniaid┬áwedi┬áhonni┬ábod┬áymrwymiad┬áNetflix┬ái┬á”ryddid┬ámynegiant┬áartistig┬á”┬áwedi┬ádarparu┬állwyfan┬áar┬ágyfer┬áaraethu┬áatgas┬áa┬ágwahaniaethu,┬áyn┬áenwedig┬árhai┬ásy’n┬átargedu┬ágrwpiau┬ásydd┬áwedi’u┬áhymyleiddio’n┬ádraddodiadol.┬á
Er bod y “canslo”┬áhonedig┬áo┬áffigurau┬áa┬ásefydliadau┬áproffil┬áuchel┬áwedi┬ábod o┬ágwmpas┬áers┬ácannoedd┬áo┬áflynyddoedd,┬ámae’r┬áddadl┬ábarhaus┬áyn┬ácodi┬ácwestiwn┬ádiddorol┬áam y┬áberthynas┬ábresennol┬árhwng┬ácomedi,┬ácynulleidfaoedd, ac┬áaraith┬árydd:┬ásef, ‘A┬áddylai┬áenwogion┬ágael┬áeu┬ádal┬áyn┬áatebol┬áneu┬áeu┬á”canslo” am┬áfynegi┬áeu┬ábarn?’┬á
Mae’n┬áanodd┬ánodi’r┬áateb┬ái’r┬ácwestiwn┬áhwn┬á(a┬ádeall┬áunion┬áddiffiniad┬áo ‘ganslo┬ádiwylliant’)┬áheb┬áddeall┬áyn┬ágyntaf┬ábeth┬áyn┬áunion┬áa┬áolygir┬áwrth┬á”ganslo”┬árhywun┬áac,┬áyn┬ábwysicach, pa┬áeffaith┬áy gall┬ácael┬á”canslo”┬áei┬ágael.┬á
Beth┬áyw┬áÔÇÿDiddymu┬áDiwylliant’?┬á
Fel┬ámudiad┬ásydd┬áwedi’i┬áwreiddio┬ámewn┬ádiwylliant┬ádu a┬ágwrthod┬áarferion┬ádiwylliannol┬áproblemus,┬ámae’r┬áweithred┬áo “ganslo”┬áneu ÔÇÿdiddymuÔÇÖ┬áyn┬áseiliedig┬áar┬áy┬ásyniad┬áo┬áddal┬árhywun┬ámewn┬ágrym┬áyn┬áatebol┬áam┬áeu┬ágweithredoedd,┬áac┬áei┬á┬ácosbi┬ádrwy┬á”ganslo”┬áeu┬ánegeseuon┬áneu┬áeu┬áhymddygiad┬ániweidiol┬á- Gan┬áganolbwyntio┬áar┬áyr┬áagwedd┬áhon,┬ámae┬állawer┬áo┬áhaneswyr┬áwedi┬áhoffi┬áÔÇÿdiddymu┬ádiwylliant’┬áfel┬áffurf┬ámodern┬áa┬áthorfol┬áo┬áostraceiddio┬ácymdeithasol.┬á
Dros┬áyr┬áychydig┬áflynyddoedd┬ádiwethaf, er┬áenghraifft,┬ámae┬ánifer┬áo┬áunigolion┬ádylanwadol┬áiawn┬áyn┬áy┬ádiwydiant┬áadloniant┬á(gan┬ágynnwys┬áseren┬áYouTube Shane Dawson,┬áawdur┬áJ.K.Mae’r┬áLletywr┬áRowling a┬áTheledu┬áAmericanaidd┬áEllen DeGeneres)┬áwedi┬ácael┬áprofiad┬áo┬ágael┬áeu┬á”canslo.”┬áO┬áganlyniad┬ái’r┬áadlais┬áhwn┬áyn┬áeu┬áherbyn┬áar┬áy┬ácyfryngau┬ácymdeithasol,┬ámae┬állawer┬áo’r┬áenwogion┬áhyn┬áwedi┬ás├┤n┬áam┬áeffaith┬ácael┬áeu┬ádiddymu.┬á
Cyhuddwyd┬áJ.K.Rowling,┬áawdur┬áy┬ágyfres┬á’Harry Potter’┬áo┬áwneud┬ánifer┬áo┬ásylwadau┬átraws-ffobia┬áyn┬á├┤l┬áyn┬á2019 pan┬áhonnodd┬áy┬ádylai┬ácylchgrawn┬ágael┬áy term, “menywod”┬áyn┬áhytrach┬ána’r┬áterm┬ámwy┬ácynhwysol, “pobl┬ásyÔÇÖn┬ácael┬ámislif.”┬á
Mae’r┬árhai┬ásy’n┬áÔÇÿdiddymu┬ádiwylliant’,┬ágan┬ágynnwys┬áAnne Charity Hudley,┬ácadeirydd┬áIeithyddiaeth┬áAffricanaidd┬áAmerica┬áym┬áMhrifysgol┬áCalifornia Santa Barbara,┬áyn┬áhonni┬áfod┬áy┬ámudiad┬áyn┬ácaniat├íu┬ái┬áunigolion┬áarfer┬áeu┬áp┼Áer┬áeu┬áhunain┬áac┬ái┬á”wrthod┬ácymryd┬árhan”┬ámewn┬áagweddau┬áar┬ágymdeithas┬áy┬ámaent┬áyn┬ágroes┬áiddynt.┬á
I┬álawer,┬áfel┬áeglurai┬áElusen┬áHudley,┬ámae’r┬áweithred┬áo “diddymu”┬árhywun┬áyn┬á”ffordd┬ágyfunol┬áo┬áddweud, ‘Fe┬áwnaethom┬ágodi┬áeich┬ástatws┬ácymdeithasol,┬áeich┬ámanteision┬áeconomaidd┬á[ac]┬ánid┬áydym┬áyn┬ámynd┬ái┬ároi┬ásylw┬ái┬áchi┬áyn┬áy┬áffordd┬áy┬ágwnaethom┬áunwaith.”┬á┬áFel┬áhyn,┬áfodd┬ábynnag,┬ámae┬ábeirniaid┬áÔÇÿdiddymu┬ádiwylliant’┬áwedi┬áhonni┬áo’r┬áblaen┬áy gall y┬ámudiad┬áfelly┬áhyrwyddo┬ámeddylfryd┬áafresymol.┬á
Gan┬áddefnyddio┬átreialon┬ágwrachod┬áo’r┬á16eg┬áganrif,┬ámae┬ábeirniaid┬áyn┬áaml┬áyn┬áhonni┬áy gall┬áunigolion┬ágael┬áeu┬á”diddymu”┬áar┬ágyfer┬átor-dyletswydd┬ácymharol┬áfach┬áneu┬ám├ón┬á(gan┬ágynnwys┬áy┬árhai┬áa┬ágyflawnwyd┬áyn┬áy┬ágorffennol)┬ásydd, o┬áganlyniad, o┬ábosibl┬áyn┬ágolygu┬ábod┬ápobl┬áddiniwed┬ábellach┬ámewn┬áperygl┬áo┬ágael┬áeu┬ácosbi’n┬áannheg┬á-┬áRhennir┬áy┬ásafiad┬áhwn┬ágyda┬ásawl┬ácomedi┬áa┬áphersonoliaethau┬áeraill┬áyn┬áy┬ádiwydiant┬áadloniant.┬á
Mae┬átrafodaethau┬áar┬áenwogion┬ásydd┬áwedi┬ácael┬áeu┬á”diddymu”┬áar┬ágam (fel┬áy’u┬ágelwir┬áyn┬á”ddioddefwyr┬ádiwylliant┬ádiddymu”)┬áyn┬áaml┬áyn┬ácyfeirio┬áat Colin Kaepernick,┬ácyn-chwarter┬áNFL a┬áwynebodd┬áadlais┬áam┬ábenlinio┬áyn┬áystod┬áAnthem┬áGenedlaethol┬áAmerica┬áyn┬á├┤l┬áyn┬á2016.┬á
Cafodd┬ámynegiant┬áKaepernick o┬ágefnogaeth┬ái’r┬ámudiad┬á’Black Lives Matter’┬áei┬áfeirniadu┬ágan┬ágefnogwyr┬áNFL a┬áchyn-arlywydd┬áy UDA,┬áDonald Trump am┬áfod┬áyn┬á”anhryloyw”.┬áYn┬áogystal┬á├ó┬áchael┬áei┬áhepgor┬áo┬áglawr┬árhifyn┬áo┬ágylchgrawn┬áSports Illustrated,┬ámae┬ánifer┬áo┬áadroddiadau’n┬áhonni┬ábod Kaepernick┬ábellach┬áwedi’i┬á’roi┬áar┬áy┬árhestr┬áddu’ ac, er┬áei┬áfod┬áyn┬áathletwr┬áprofiadol,┬ámae’n┬áannhebygol┬áo┬ágymryd┬árhan┬ámewn┬áchwaraeon┬áproffesiynol┬áeto.┬á
Pa effaith y gellir ei chael ar rywun? 
Gan┬áfod┬ágwrthod┬áenwogion┬áneu┬ásefydliad┬áproffil┬áuchel┬áyn┬áaml┬áyn┬ádigwydd┬áar┬áy┬ácyfryngau┬ácymdeithasol,┬ámae’n┬áanodd┬áweithiau┬ámesur┬áyn┬ágywir┬áyr┬áeffaith┬áy gall “diddymu”┬áei┬ágael┬áar┬árywun.┬á
Mae┬áÔÇÿDiddymu┬áDiwylliant’┬áeisoes┬áwedi┬áprofi┬áei┬ábotensial┬ái┬ánewid┬áy┬áffordd┬áy┬ámae┬áunigolion┬áyn┬ácael┬áeu┬ágweld┬ámewn┬ácymdeithas.┬á
Yn┬áogystal,┬áfel┬áy┬ádangoswyd┬áeisoes┬áyn┬ásgil┬áDave┬áChapelle a┬áJ.K.┬áRowling,┬áNid┬áyw┬áeffeithiau┬áÔÇÿdiddymu┬ádiwylliant’ ac┬áadlach┬ácyfryngau┬ácymdeithasol┬áwedi’u┬ácyfyngu┬ái┬áfannau┬áar-lein┬áyn┬áunig┬áac,┬áyn┬áhytrach, gallant┬ágael┬áeffaith┬áwirioneddol┬áa┬ásylweddol┬áiawn┬áar┬áfywoliaeth┬áunigolion┬áproffil┬áuchel.┬á
O┬áganlyniad┬ái’r┬áboicot┬ácyhoeddus┬ásy’n┬átargedu┬áRowling, er┬áenghraifft,┬ádywedodd┬ácyhoeddwyr┬áy┬ágyfres┬á’Harry Potter’┬áeu┬ábod┬áwedi┬áprofi┬á”gostyngiad┬ásydyn┬áiawn”┬ámewn┬ágwerthiant┬áÔÇô Mae┬árhai┬ácyfeiriadau┬áat┬áenw’r┬áawdur┬áhefyd┬áwedi’u┬átynnu┬áo┬ásafleoedd┬ácefnogwyr.┬á
Gan┬áystyried┬áhyn,┬ámae┬áhefyd┬áyn┬ábwysig┬ácydnabod┬ábod┬ágan┬áy┬áweithred┬áo “ddiddymu”┬árhywun,┬áfel┬áy┬ámae┬ábeirniaid┬áy┬ámudiad┬áwedi┬átynnu┬ásylw┬áati┬áo’r┬áblaen,┬ágydaÔÇÖr┬ápotensial┬ái┬áfeithrin┬á’meddylfryd┬ámob’┬átorfol┬áa┬áallai┬áfethu┬á├ó┬áchydnabod┬áy mater┬ácraidd┬ámewn┬áffordd┬áresymegol┬áneu deg;┬áWrth┬áfynd┬ái’r┬áafael┬á├ó’r┬ádadlau┬áynghylch┬á’The Closer’┬áyn┬áystod┬áperfformiad┬ádiweddar,┬áategodd┬áChapelle:┬á
Dywedodd┬áy┬ácomed├»wr┬áei┬áfod┬áwedi┬áei┬á”ddrysu”┬ágan┬áyr┬áadlach┬áy┬ámae┬áwedi’i┬ádderbyn┬áar-lein┬áac,┬áwrth┬ásiarad┬áam┬áei┬ábrofiadau┬áei┬áhun┬ágyda’r┬ágymuned┬áLGBTQ,┬ádywedodd┬áfod┬ápawb┬á”wedi┬ábod┬áyn┬áddim┬ábyd┬áond┬ácariadus┬áa┬áchefnogol, felly┬ádydw┬ái┬áddim┬áyn┬ágwybod┬ábeth┬áyw┬ápwrpas┬áyr┬áholl┬ánonsens┬áhwn.”┬á
Gan┬ágloi┬áei┬áberfformiad,┬áaeth┬áChapelle┬ái’r┬áafael┬á├ó’i┬áfeirniaidaeth┬áyn┬áuniongyrchol.┬áDywedodd, er┬áei┬áfod┬áyn┬á”fwy┬ána┬ápharod┬ái┬ároi┬ácynulleidfa┬á[I’r┬ágymuned┬áLGBTQ], ÔÇ£ni┬áfyddai’n┬á”plygu┬ái┬áunrhyw┬áofynion” neu┬áw┼Às: “Ni┬áallwch┬ágael┬áy┬ásgwrs┬áhon ac┬áesgusodi┬áfy┬állais┬áoddi┬áarni,”┬ádaeth┬áChappelle┬ái’r┬ácasgliad, “mae┬áhynny┬áond┬áyn┬ádeg.”┬á
Felly,┬ámae┬áÔÇÿDiddymu┬áDiwylliant’┬áyn┬ámeddiannu┬ásefyllfa┬áddiddorol┬áo┬áfewn┬áein┬átirwedd┬ágymdeithasol┬áfodern┬áac,┬áyn┬áddi-os,┬ábydd┬áyn┬áparhau┬ái┬áfod┬áyn┬ábwnc┬átrafod┬áperthnasol┬áwrth┬ásymud┬áymlaen.┬á
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