issue 23// vol 47 Holding influencers to account » To be uncancelled, one must first exemplify changed behaviour Alexis Zygan Staff Writer ne user-generated definition on Urban Dictionary defines “cancelled” as “You are over with. Done for. No redemption. Be gone.” In most cases, there is no coming back after screenshots or other evidence revealing a person's bigotry and/or corrupt tendencies is publicly shared on social media. What follows cancellation is the demise of social status and ostracization. For some, there is a chance to be uncancelled—but only if they have taken measures towards redemption by recognizing their mistake, apologizing, and exemplifying changed behaviour. Humans are fallible; we make mistakes. Some slips are feasible to forgive, primarily when learning and growth arise after the situation. Repeat offenders often lose the trust of their community; the chance of ever being uncancelled quickly becomes unpropitious. Cancel culture emerged in public discourse during 2017 and was first aimed at celebrities. Now, it has expanded so that brands and companies also risk being cancelled and boycotted. When protests in the name of Black Lives Matter swept the world, many companies were cancelled for Ee hem (cae Nthp Nan ean SO MMMRIE UTI E Wn PEON Ee iy \NCELLED #CANCE? their treatment of BIPOC employees and racial stereotypes that they had spread. To prevent profit loss, many companies gave public apologies and managed their image through rebranding. Influencers are a group of aspiring celebrities who gained prominence through social media. Their follower count grants them the title of influencer while their influence is used through hashtag- sponsored advertisements. Often these people rise to fame due to a combination of pretty privilege (privilege garnered for being perceived as attractive to others) and putting on display a life that others dream they could have. A big part of the influencer lifestyle is partying with other influencers and creating content together. Illustration by Athena Little opinions // no. 21 When COVID-19 regulations restricting the number of people in gatherings came into place, many influencers treated them as mere suggestions rather than explicit measures to keep others (predominately seniors and vulnerable citizens) safe. Too many influencers chose to continue hosting parties to create content for social media instead of following governmental guidelines. People responded to the influencers with outrage; the public was frustrated with their lack of empathy, unwillingness to wear a mask, and failure to stop partying like the rest of us had. Once public opinion spread, influencers responded with apology videos asking for forgiveness from their fans and telling them to be smarter than they had been. Influencers who failed to show changed behaviour do not deserve to be uncancelled. Youtuber D’Angelo Wallace made an in-depth video called “Influencer-19” discussing the behaviour of influencers during COVID-19. Only once a person or company exemplifies changed behaviour can they be uncancelled. An apology is only the beginning in the process of regaining the trust of their community. Mistakes are inevitable, but once mistakes become a pattern of behaviour, it is hard for anyone to be sympathetic. What I learned from the Meghan and Harry interview » Couple’s interview reveals mismanagement in the Royal Family Jerrison Oracion Senior Columnist he Royal Family has been involved in a lot of controversies over the past few centuries. Recently, strict protocols guiding what happens behind the scenes led to members in the family stepping away from their royal duties. After Prince Harry and Suits star Meghan Markle were married in 2018, there was promise that change was coming to the Royal Family and their marriage would hopefully lead to more inclusive behaviour. Three years later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the Royal Family after claiming to be mistreated by the staff, other family members, and the British tabloid newspapers covering them as well. They told their side of the story on what happened with the Royal Family in a two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey. Roughly 17-million viewers tuned in that day with an additional 12-million viewers in the UK the following day. It was like an episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter witha disclaimer that Meghan and Harry were not paid for the interview and were free to express themselves. There were a lot of revelations after Meghan addressed the tabloid reported controversy that she made the Duchess of Cambridge cry during consultations. Markle claims that it was the opposite, and it might have been leaked during one of the frequent media parties at Buckingham Palace. As always, tabloid misinformation can lead to bigger consequences, and if the Royal Family is not being transparent about what happens at work that can add even more confusion and lies. Meghan Markle still gets along with Queen Elizabeth and confirmed that she is not racist. The biggest moment in the interview was when Meghan talked about a meeting that she and the Duke had where staff talked openly about the skin colour of their soon to be son Archie. The staff talking about Archie’s skin colour could bea sign of racist and outdated policies or ideas whose end is long overdue. Winfrey responded to that with “What?” and it got more interesting when she found out that Archie will not have protection when going around since he will not have a royal title. Current and former world leaders have security guards protecting them and I think everyone in the Royal Family (including former members) should have protection as well since they may be important in the future. Also, they did a bad job handling mental health and like Princess Diana, Meghan claims she was depressed enough to consider suicide even though she looked happy. She asked the head of staff to get her institutional help, but they did not accept her request. These events led to Harry realizing how black people were treated in the Royal Family and he supported Meghan the entire time. Originally, they were going to reduce their royal duties and work in Canada; instead, archaic rules and the coronavirus pandemic made them flee to the United States and pay for their own security. Since leaving the Royal Family, Harry has not talked to his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, William—or his father Prince Charles. I think the interview showed that if royal protocols were updated, then Illustration by Athena Little Meghan and Harry would still have been in the Royal Family. Mental health and racism issues happens not only in the Royal Family but also in the government and the entertainment industry. This shows that the system must be fixed, and everyone should have access to support services to resolve their problems. The interview will not only create change in the Royal Family but also possibly in the Commonwealth and around the world.