The Human Cost of Public Shaming
The Human Cost of Public Shaming
Imagine waking up to find your name trending. Oh and not because something you did went fabulously viral and now you’re the second coming of Sabrina Carpenter, but because of a post, video, or action that’s gone viral for all the wrong reasons. In today’s age of woke-ness, the digital mob has become ruthless, often demanding apologies, boycotts, or the total dismantling of a person’s career.
And sure, yeah, some completely deserve to have their Cersei “Game Of Thrones” SHAME moment… but let’s be honest, these are a few exceptions.
The rest of us are simply human. And being human comes with faults. If we feel we can’t make mistakes (obviously not on purpose) or learn from them without the threat of public humiliation or cancellation, it stifles growth a species, creates unwarranted fears, and undermines the very essence of our culture and sociological progress.
Since the dawn of social media, I've been at the forefront, working alongside some of the most recognizable names in the industry, and I've seen firsthand just how unnecessarily brutal the public can be… “You’re the worst mom. Your kids are better off in a foster home.”… “He only married you for your money.”… and let us not forget one message I personally received that said, “You and Nicky Hilton deserve to die.” Oh and for context, this was a post that I did a couple of years back in an animal shelter event in NYC. Uhmmm???
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Imagine waking up every gosh-darn day with hundreds, thousands, and millions of cruel messages from people not even bold enough to have a public account nonetheless. (Enter Cuban Idalia… “Bruh, if you’re gonna come at me.. COME AT ME!”)
The rapid spread of opinions, often based on partial truths and quick judgments, has turned accountability (yes, this is good) into a weapon (no, this is bad), leaving little room for nuance, growth, or redemption. It’s a landscape where even the smallest mistake can become a career-ending scandal.
Let’s not get started with mental health issues like anxiety and panic attacks, depression, and PTSD-like symptoms.
But guess what? For those pointing the finger and actually doing the cancelling, the act of participating in public takedowns can also have unintended psychological effects like moral burnout, guilt, and regret.
So what’s the lesson here?
Excuse the language, but THINK FUCKING TWICE before you judge, write, or decide to cancel someone or something. Imagine your biggest mistake being put on display for the entire world to see. The real lesson is to learn from the experience, avoid repeating the mistake, make things right where possible, and grow. It shouldn’t be, “Apologize or else you’re cancelled.”
So as our awareness is growing as online society (yes, this is good), we’re already seeing shift toward fostering accountability through constructive conversations (yes, this is better), rather than public shaming.
Cancel culture is finally diminishing as people begin to recognize its harmful impact on personal growth and open dialogue. I’m with the individuals that are pushing back against the notion that one mistake should define a person’s entire character or career.
I wouldn’t want it to define mine.
I wouldn’t want it to define yours.
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XX Idalia