WHOOPI GOLDBERG TACKLES CANCEL CULTURE: “I FEEL LIKE THE TRUTH DOESN’T SEEM TO MATTER AS MUCH THESE DAYS.”
Recently, actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg appeared at the Edinburgh TV Festival, an annual media event held in the UK each year. The festival hosts significant figures from various key industries, allowing them to tackle and debate significant cultural issues. During her appearance, which was part of the International Icon Interview section, the much-loved Ghost actress, Whoopi Goldberg, spoke about the issue of cancel culture and the impact it was having on society as a whole…
“I feel like the truth doesn’t seem to matter as much these days. Because there is cancel culture, people will call or text and say ‘I’m not buying your product. This is who you have talking about your product, me and my five million followers — if you keep her — we’re not going to buy your car, or we’re not going to buy your shampoo or we’re not going to buy your toothbrush or we’re not going to buy your Pampers…”
Goldberg experienced at least something similar to cancel culture back in 2004 when she made a joke about then US president George Bush. Her career hit a halt and she found herself rejected from several shows and side-lined by a portion of the general public, which she eventually recovered from after popular TV host Barbara Walters offered her a role on her show.
Speaking of that time, Goldberg said:
“I would describe that situation as a lot of people covering their backsides, because the joke was never about him. But no one ever stood up and said, ‘Hey, here’s what actually happened.’ And they put it in the newspaper. And you notice, they’d never seen what I exactly said, or what I said at all. But all somebody has to do is say you said it…”
Goldberg seems to have hit the proverbial “nail on the head” in her summation of cancel culture, where often it seems the true words or actions of the accused appear to be vastly overlooked in favour of the vast angry quotes and articles of seething outrage. Rarely does balanced analysis make an appearance when backlashes make these headlines, or any potential context given to the stories, quotes or articles (that often result in the cancellation of these public figures).
As Goldberg herself attested, “All somebody has to do is say you said it.” And that, unfortunately, seems to be enough in today’s world.
It is not often that figures in the public eye make any criticisms or heavy stances towards cancel culture, and one can only guess that this is in part due to fear of experiencing a backlash themselves, from proponents of the movement.
Just recently Sir Tom Stoppard made a statement on the issue, saying:
“50 years ago the freedom to say what you like — within the constraints of the law of the land — was the freedom upon which all other freedoms depended. It was essential that people were allowed their moment on their platform….People tread wearily, careful of what they say. I say one casual thing and I’m screwed for the rest of my life! It’s really quite embarrassing…”
Comedian Ricky Gervais has made regular headlines in the press due to his honest and frank observations on cancel culture, citing that free speech is becoming an endangered thing due to this cultural shift. The artist Morrissey is another key figure who has been unafraid to express criticisms of cancel culture and the severe impact it has upon free speech and the art world.
There have been several voices standing up to the impact of cancel culture and urging more independent thought and freedom — however, not many. Until more public figures join the discussion and rebel against the movement, it is like swimming against the tide.
It is time this issue is examined and challenged, otherwise all we have left is to watch more of those we admire get swept away by the public storm of crucifixions.
