Cancel Culture and Its Relation to Johnny Depp
BY SYDNEY PASCAL '22
The internet’s growing popularity has allowed trends to take over all aspects of our lives, especially our opinions. As a result, we often adhere to a mob mentality and support the most popular ideas without substantial evidence, leading to the digital phenomenon known as cancel culture. Even though the idea of cancel culture is rooted in morality and positive social change, it has recently taken a much more negative route. Nowadays, cancel culture doesn’t just affect, but also the real person on the other side of the screen, and in a world revolving around public image, this is extremely dangerous. For the critically acclaimed actor Johnny Depp, cancel culture nearly cost him his career. While the intentions behind cancel culture may be good, its negative impacts outweigh the positive.
At first glance, cancel culture appears to be a parasite that feeds off internet users, but its roots are surprisingly positive. The internet has served as a platform for silenced victims, minorities, and outcasts to share their voice. Today, it continues to bolster impactful causes such as the #MeToo movement, in which it provided a safe space for victims of sexual assault to speak up and share their experiences. However, social media comes with downsides, as extremists can easily spread false information. Additionally, anyone whose opinions differ from the general consensus is mocked and attacked online. When powerful movements trend online, they can spark a “mob mentality,” producing a mindless group of activists who base their opinions on limited information. Together, these tendencies have resulted in the creation of cancel culture.
According to Merriam-Webster, the term “to cancel someone” is “to stop supporting them or their work.” In essence, to be canceled is to lose internet users’ support on a large scale. Though it is important to hold a person accountable for their actions, a wave of online activists can quickly turn into a hateful tsunami that can ruin a person's life. Additionally, since the mob-like enthusiasts can post and spread information quickly, the truth becomes difficult to distinguish from false rumors.
Finding the truth is the key complication in the assault case involving Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard. Heard accused Depp of assault after their divorce, using the #MeToo movement to voice her opinions and garner support. Depp fired back, defending himself online and in the courtroom. After losing his first case, Depp came out with his evidence against Heard, accusing her of being the abuser. In this case, which teeters between “he said” and “she said,” it becomes increasingly hard to know who to believe. In the end, Depp was ruled guilty of domestic abuse, but the court’s ruling is less significant than the repercussions of Heard’s accusations.
Even before his conviction, Depp was asked to resign from the Warner Bros. production of the Fantastic Beasts series, and he immediately lost respect and other deals in the acting business. Heard, on the other hand, lost nothing. Here, the effects of cancel culture become clear: one person makes allegations and the other is attacked by the mindless mob, which, in this case, mainly consisted of the activists involved in the #MeToo movement. Heard’s passionate advocates believed that their actions furthered the #MeToo movement, though they lacked solid evidence that they were supporting a true victim. While those who share their experiences of victimization must be heard, many online users skip the evidence and research, simply believing and defending the first one to speak out. When dealing with such heavy allegations, this behavior is unacceptable. Depp, too, has plenty of evidence against Heard but has not received anywhere near the same support as she has, revealing the unjust repercussions of cancel culture.
So what does this say about our society and the direction we are heading in? It brings up a few key takeaways, notably that the internet is filled with distorted information and echo chambers, blinding us from the effects of our actions. For starters, we need to recognize how easily lies spread on the internet. Though there is value in hearing other’s experiences and uplifting those who are silenced, it is dangerous to impulsively trust the information we consume. Further, we often feel that “canceling” someone has few physical impacts, forgetting that allegations can quickly create a mob. These impassioned communities are hard to sway, as counter-evidence does not reach those who have already formed strong opinions based on rumors and headlines. These trends are particularly apparent with Depp; his case reveals how easily influenced, and almost blind, we are on the internet. We prefer to chase the drama and believe the mob over confronting the consequences of our assumptions and gaining a more nuanced perspective. As the internet continues to grow, this behavior becomes harder and harder to prevent, but by educating those around us, we can slowly make the internet a bit safer and less toxic for everyone to access.
At first glance, cancel culture appears to be a parasite that feeds off internet users, but its roots are surprisingly positive. The internet has served as a platform for silenced victims, minorities, and outcasts to share their voice. Today, it continues to bolster impactful causes such as the #MeToo movement, in which it provided a safe space for victims of sexual assault to speak up and share their experiences. However, social media comes with downsides, as extremists can easily spread false information. Additionally, anyone whose opinions differ from the general consensus is mocked and attacked online. When powerful movements trend online, they can spark a “mob mentality,” producing a mindless group of activists who base their opinions on limited information. Together, these tendencies have resulted in the creation of cancel culture.
According to Merriam-Webster, the term “to cancel someone” is “to stop supporting them or their work.” In essence, to be canceled is to lose internet users’ support on a large scale. Though it is important to hold a person accountable for their actions, a wave of online activists can quickly turn into a hateful tsunami that can ruin a person's life. Additionally, since the mob-like enthusiasts can post and spread information quickly, the truth becomes difficult to distinguish from false rumors.
Finding the truth is the key complication in the assault case involving Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard. Heard accused Depp of assault after their divorce, using the #MeToo movement to voice her opinions and garner support. Depp fired back, defending himself online and in the courtroom. After losing his first case, Depp came out with his evidence against Heard, accusing her of being the abuser. In this case, which teeters between “he said” and “she said,” it becomes increasingly hard to know who to believe. In the end, Depp was ruled guilty of domestic abuse, but the court’s ruling is less significant than the repercussions of Heard’s accusations.
Even before his conviction, Depp was asked to resign from the Warner Bros. production of the Fantastic Beasts series, and he immediately lost respect and other deals in the acting business. Heard, on the other hand, lost nothing. Here, the effects of cancel culture become clear: one person makes allegations and the other is attacked by the mindless mob, which, in this case, mainly consisted of the activists involved in the #MeToo movement. Heard’s passionate advocates believed that their actions furthered the #MeToo movement, though they lacked solid evidence that they were supporting a true victim. While those who share their experiences of victimization must be heard, many online users skip the evidence and research, simply believing and defending the first one to speak out. When dealing with such heavy allegations, this behavior is unacceptable. Depp, too, has plenty of evidence against Heard but has not received anywhere near the same support as she has, revealing the unjust repercussions of cancel culture.
So what does this say about our society and the direction we are heading in? It brings up a few key takeaways, notably that the internet is filled with distorted information and echo chambers, blinding us from the effects of our actions. For starters, we need to recognize how easily lies spread on the internet. Though there is value in hearing other’s experiences and uplifting those who are silenced, it is dangerous to impulsively trust the information we consume. Further, we often feel that “canceling” someone has few physical impacts, forgetting that allegations can quickly create a mob. These impassioned communities are hard to sway, as counter-evidence does not reach those who have already formed strong opinions based on rumors and headlines. These trends are particularly apparent with Depp; his case reveals how easily influenced, and almost blind, we are on the internet. We prefer to chase the drama and believe the mob over confronting the consequences of our assumptions and gaining a more nuanced perspective. As the internet continues to grow, this behavior becomes harder and harder to prevent, but by educating those around us, we can slowly make the internet a bit safer and less toxic for everyone to access.
