Willow Smith Criticizes Cancel Culture: ‘Shaming Doesn’t Lead to Learning’
Listen to Willow Smith’s thoughts on cancel culture.
During the Juneteenth episode of Red Table Talk, a trending talk show starring Willow Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith expressed her disapproval of “cancel culture,” or callout culture. She describes this online, public shaming trend as being rooted in savagery and questionable ethics. It breeds humiliation and a reluctance to speak out for fear of reprisal. Willow commented: “I’m seeing people shaming others, like saying really terrible things. Shaming people for what they are choosing to say or shaming people for not saying anything at all,” she said. “I feel like if we really want change, shaming doesn’t lead to learning.”
Willow Smith weighs in on cancel culture: ‘Shaming doesn’t lead to learning’ https://t.co/Gu0pZypfKI
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) June 20, 2020
This American singer refuses to jump on the bandwagon and endorse cancel culture. Instead, Willow beats the drum for compassion and patience. She encourages her peers to engage in a civil, constructive, and fruitful dialogue regarding Black Lives Matter and other social justice themes. She warns that pithy, pointed tweets or social media posts calling out others undermines the central objective of erasing this culture of contempt and teaching acceptance and tolerance.
Willow Smith expressed her hope for the younger generation to make a change and achieve racial equality, and that it starts with ending “cancel culture.” https://t.co/tUumSXEB7S pic.twitter.com/6Xz0gkHwxb
— E! News (@enews) June 19, 2020
Fans were quick to voice their support for the singer’s candid words.
what willow smith said about cancel culture is literally what i’ve been trying to explain for the past month on here
— dwts shenanigans (@dwtsshenanigans) June 21, 2020
Fans echo her perception of cancel culture as counter-productive and problematic.
Actually I am with Willow Smith; cancel culture is disgusting and it teaches people nothing. When did shoving problems aside become the best way to deal with them?
— Rowan Buchanan-Brown (@buchanan_br) June 20, 2020
Willow disapproves of social media trolls who attack high-profile figures for their continued public action and articulation of Black Lives Matter. Many celebrities who come forward and publicly proclaim their ally status are censured by social media trolls. Their words are vindictively dissected, maliciously twisted, and dismissed as disingenuous. Likewise, passive individuals who decide to remain silent are denounced for shrugging off injustice. These celebrities are going to have to face the music either way; there is no winning. Willow argues that if we, as a society, hope to pursue real, meaningful change, attain racial equity, then we need to create a safe space for discussion and nurture learning and growth.
And she’s right!
Speak louder @OfficialWillow !
https://t.co/tUNWtt5Fzn— C Λ R L I T ⓞ (@WolfDeArte) June 19, 2020
We are singing Willow’s praises after hearing the artist’s stance on cancel culture. In this time of heightened uncertainty, anxiety, and agony, it is more essential than ever to unite and lift each other up. We cannot afford to tear each other down as it distracts from our main mission: racial equality.
I am a plucky Sophomore at Wesleyan University with a passion for writing, fashion, running, and extremely strong coffee—so strong that it would make a 6’5’’ WWE wrestler weep. I am a small person with a big personality, only intensified by the coffee, that seeps into both my bold street and writing style. I am currently based in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area and am excited to work for such an empowering, female-focused publication. During this trying time in history it is more important than ever for women to continue lifting each other up and spreading positive energy!
