You wake up in your mansion,
pick up your phone and see your name
is trending on social media.
You turn on the TV and see your face.
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,
"Bro! Chill out!"
offensive or illegal.
Once you're in the eye of this hurricane,
one wrong move
could end your career for good.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Find out how to survive it
right here.