How to Survive Getting Canceled

4 min read

You wake up in your mansion, turn on the TV and see your face. You pick up your phone and see your name is trending on social media. You have missed 50 calls and received hundreds of emails. Either you just won an award, or the cancel mob is coming for you.

Being a target of cancel culture means that you lose the support of fans, brands and sometimes your colleagues. This usually affects famous or powerful people. It takes away what they need the most, a platform and cultural relevance. This is often a consequence of doing something controversial, offensive or illegal.
Once you’re in the eye of this hurricane, one wrong move could end your career for good.

What is the first thing you should do after getting canceled? How can you make a good apology? And is there any way to get your former life and status back?

In the last decade, cancel culture has boosted, mainly due to the wide reach of social media. It has given people a voice who didn’t have a chance to stand up to powerful figures before. Cancel culture also makes it tough to navigate the show business life without creating controversy. If you don’t want your glamorous life shattered, follow these steps.

Step 1. Avoid the heat

Stay away from troublemakers. Your friends’ and family’s actions will reflect on you too. If you fight for animal rights but your romantic partner wears fur, you’ll likely get called a hypocrite. Think twice before commenting on complicated and divisive topics if you’re not involved in them. And even if you get asked about them, choose your response carefully. Stay aware of the social climate. The last thing people want to see when facing a crisis is a picture of your new yacht. And whatever you do, don’t let the paparazzi get the best of you.

Step 2. Be a decent human being

That sounds reasonable, right? But some people seem to struggle with basic, good human behavior. Very few people would disagree with the cancellation of the disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. If you commit a crime, you should pay the consequences. But having a clean criminal record is just the start. Famous individuals get held to a higher standard than most people. Remember, people are watching you at all times. This includes how you treat people on the set, your behavior offstage and even how you drive. Treat a clerk poorly, and you’ll be a trending topic on Twitter a few hours later.

Step 3. Apologize

Now you’ve done it. You didn’t mean to, but it happened. You’ve offended the masses. You’ll need to act fast, but don’t respond or post anything in the heat of the moment. Talk to your public relations team. Give them all the facts and prepare an honest response. But don’t make it about your shame and suffering. If you play the victim, it might get worse for you.

And don’t point fingers or try to redirect people’s anger. Start by saying you’re sorry to the specific people affected by your actions. Take full responsibility, and explain what you are doing to change your behavior or mindset. In 2017, actor Chris Hemsworth took to Instagram to apologize for dressing up as an Indigenous person for a costume party. He apologized directly to all Indigenous people. And he raised awareness of the need for a deeper understanding of the many challenges Indigenous communities face.

Step 4. Choose actions over words

Really think about and understand the damage you’ve done, and fulfill your promise to make it better. Don’t go to a big party the next day and act as if nothing happened. Try to lay low and stay away from the spotlight for a while. When you return, be humble but brave when facing the public.

Step 5. Mind your mental health

Take some time off social media, especially if it’s flooded with hateful messages about you. Talk to a therapist or someone close to you about your mental balance and stability. When you feel it’s time, forgive yourself. Accept the fact that your relationship with your fans has changed. And understand that anything you say publicly may be criticized as well as celebrated.

Surviving cancellation can be difficult, especially when you’re constantly attacked online. But this problem affects more than celebrities. Being bullied online could make your life miserable.