What the Data Shows About Who Gets Canceled and Why
Everyone claims they’re being canceled. Conservatives say they can’t speak freely without facing mob attacks. Progressives say they face consequences for standing up for justice. College professors say students are too sensitive. Students say professors refuse to update outdated views. Comedians say they can’t make jokes anymore. Marginalized groups say they’re finally being heard.
So who’s actually being silenced? Who faces real consequences versus who claims victimhood while facing none? And what does any of this have to do with the word “woke”?
Let’s look at what the evidence actually shows.
What “Cancel Culture” Actually Means
The term “cancel culture” gets used to describe everything from Twitter pile-ons to people facing consequences for harmful behavior to legitimate criticism to government censorship. So what are we actually talking about?
The typical pattern: A celebrity or public figure says or does something offensive. People criticize them on social media. Some call for boycotts or firing. The question is: what happens next? Do they lose their career? Do they apologize and move on? Do they face no consequences at all and claim victimhood anyway?
Who actually faces consequences: The data on this is revealing. A 2020 study analyzed 40 high-profile “cancellation” incidents. Of the 40 people supposedly “canceled”:
• 15 faced no measurable career impact
• 12 saw temporary setbacks but recovered within a year
• 8 faced significant but not career-ending consequences
• 5 lost major opportunities or employment
In other words, most people who claim to be “canceled” are fine. Some face temporary consequences. A small number face serious repercussions. And often, the people facing the most severe consequences are not famous—they’re regular people caught on video doing something indefensible.
The distinction matters: There’s a real difference between:
• A celebrity facing criticism and apologizing (Kevin Hart, James Gunn—both recovered)
• A public figure losing sponsorships for documented harmful behavior
• A regular person being fired for racist behavior caught on camera
• Someone claiming they’re “canceled” while still employed, published, and platformed
The first is accountability. The second might be accountability or might be overreach depending on context. The third is often justified consequences. The fourth is performance.
Cancel Culture Isn’t New
The idea that “cancel culture” is a new phenomenon created by social media and progressive activists doesn’t match history. Americans have always tried to silence people they disagree with. What’s changed is who has the power to do it and what we call it.
The Dixie Chicks (2003): In 2003, the Dixie Chicks’ lead singer Natalie Maines said at a London concert: “We’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” This was criticism of George W. Bush and the Iraq War.
What happened: Country radio stations stopped playing their music. Organized CD-smashing events were held. Sales dropped 40% overnight. They received death threats. Radio conglomerates blacklisted them. They didn’t have a Top 40 hit for over a decade. Their career was effectively ended.
This wasn’t Twitter mobs. This was coordinated action by radio stations, industry executives, and organized conservative groups. It was actual cancellation—and it worked.
Colin Kaepernick (2016): In 2016, Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police violence against Black Americans. He was explicit about his reasons: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color.”
What happened: He became a free agent in 2017. No NFL team signed him, despite being a capable starting quarterback. NFL owners admitted in depositions that they avoided him due to the controversy. He hasn’t played in the NFL since. His career ended at age 29.
President Trump called for NFL owners to fire players who knelt. Fans burned Kaepernick jerseys. Conservative commentators called him unpatriotic. This was organized pressure from the top down, and it succeeded in ending his career.
French fries become “freedom fries” (2003): After 9/11, anything French became associated with opposition to the Iraq War. Congressional cafeterias renamed french fries “freedom fries” and french toast “freedom toast.” Restaurants did the same. People poured French wine down drains.
This was literal cancellation of anything French because France opposed the Iraq War. It was silly, but it was also coordinated and came from government officials.
These aren’t ancient history. They’re recent examples of organized campaigns to silence dissent, end careers, and enforce ideological conformity. The people leading those campaigns are now claiming to be victims of “cancel culture.”
Recent Examples: Who Cancels Whom?
Let’s look at some recent high-profile cases and what actually happened.
Bud Light (2023): In 2023, Bud Light sent a commemorative can to trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Conservative commentators and customers launched a boycott. Bud Light sales dropped 25%. The company lost billions in market value. Two executives were placed on leave. Anheuser-Busch CEO apologized.
This was effective cancellation. A company made a minor gesture toward inclusivity, faced organized backlash, and suffered major financial consequences. Executives lost jobs.
The same people who organized the Bud Light boycott claim that “cancel culture” is a liberal tactic.
Disney vs. DeSantis (2022-2023): In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill restricting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity. Disney, Florida’s largest employer, criticized the law.
DeSantis responded by having the Florida legislature strip Disney of its self-governing status in its special tax district—a status it had held since 1967. This was explicit government retaliation against a company for political speech. DeSantis said: “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy.”
This isn’t cancel culture. This is government punishment for speech. It’s actual censorship.
Book bans (2021-2023): Between 2021 and 2023, over 3,300 books were banned or challenged in U.S. schools and libraries. The American Library Association documented that 40% of challenges came from organized groups rather than individual parents.
Banned books include: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Bluest Eye, Gender Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, books about Rosa Parks, books about Martin Luther King Jr., and books about the Holocaust. The most commonly banned books deal with race, LGBTQ+ issues, or sexual content.
States passed laws making it easier to challenge books and harder for librarians to defend keeping them. In some cases, librarians have been threatened with criminal prosecution for having challenged books available.
This is government censorship. It’s not Twitter mobs—it’s legislatures passing laws to restrict what can be read.
Teachers fired or disciplined (2021-2023): Multiple states passed laws restricting how teachers can discuss race, gender, and American history. Teachers have been fired or disciplined for:
• Teaching about systemic racism
• Having diverse books in classroom libraries
• Acknowledging their own sexual orientation
• Discussing current events related to race or gender
In 2023, Florida rejected an AP African American Studies course, claiming it lacked educational value. The state also required teaching that slavery provided “personal benefit” to enslaved people by teaching them skills.
Teachers are being fired by governments for teaching history. That’s not cancel culture. That’s state censorship.
What Does “Woke” Actually Mean?
“Woke” has become the all-purpose term for anything conservatives oppose. But what does it actually mean, and where did it come from?
The origin: “Woke” originated in Black American vernacular in the 1960s, meaning being aware of social and racial justice issues. The phrase “stay woke” meant remaining alert to injustice and inequality. It was adopted more widely during the Black Lives Matter movement as a call to recognize systemic racism.
Conservatives adopted the term as a pejorative around 2020, using it to describe anything they consider excessively progressive, particularly around issues of race, gender, and social justice.
The current usage: The problem: “woke” now means whatever the speaker wants it to mean. It’s become a catch-all term with no consistent definition:
• Diversity training in the military = “woke military”
• Companies doing Pride Month marketing = “woke corporations”
• Teaching that slavery happened = “woke schools”
• Acknowledging climate change = “woke environmentalism”
• Having diverse characters in movies = “woke Hollywood”
The term has become so broad it’s essentially meaningless except as a signal of tribal opposition. If something involves acknowledging inequality, considering other perspectives, or including marginalized groups, it can be labeled “woke” and therefore dismissed.
When pressed for a definition: In a 2023 deposition, Ron DeSantis’ general counsel was asked to define “woke.” He responded: “The belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.” By this definition, the Civil Rights Movement was “woke.” Women’s suffrage was “woke.” Labor movements were “woke.” Any recognition that American society has flaws and they should be fixed is “woke.”
This reveals what the term actually means: it’s a way to dismiss any claim of injustice without having to engage with whether that claim is true.
The Pattern: Claiming Victimhood While Silencing Others
Here’s the pattern that emerges from looking at these cases:
The claim: Conservative commentators, politicians, and activists claim they’re being “canceled” or “silenced” while simultaneously:
• Organizing boycotts (Bud Light, Target, Disney)
• Passing laws to restrict speech (book bans, teacher gag orders)
• Using government power to punish companies for speech (Disney)
• Firing teachers for teaching
• Banning books in schools and libraries
This isn’t hypocrisy if you understand the actual goal: the complaint isn’t about cancel culture existing. It’s about who has the power to do it.
When conservatives successfully silence someone (Dixie Chicks, Kaepernick), that’s “accountability” or “market forces” or “consequences for actions.” When progressives criticize someone on Twitter, that’s “cancel culture” and “censorship”—even if the person being criticized faces no real consequences.
Legitimate concerns exist: There are real cases of progressive overreach. People have been fired for things that probably didn’t warrant firing. Social media pile-ons can be cruel and disproportionate. Some campus controversies involve genuine restrictions on speech.
The scale matters: But when you compare:
• Twitter arguments where people face no consequences
• vs. State legislatures passing laws banning books
• Celebrities apologizing and keeping their careers
• vs. Teachers fired by governments for teaching history
• Companies facing criticism for Pride Month marketing
• vs. Governments using power to punish companies for speech
One is annoying. The other is actual government censorship.
Who Actually Loses Their Career?
Let’s look at who actually faces career-ending consequences versus who claims victimhood while remaining employed, platformed, and profitable.
People who lost careers: Colin Kaepernick: Hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016. Career ended.
The Dixie Chicks: Blacklisted from country radio for a decade.
Teachers fired for having diverse books or teaching about racism: Dozens documented.
Regular people caught on video being racist: Often fired, sometimes justifiably.
People who claim victimhood but are fine: J.K. Rowling: Still publishing, still wealthy, still platformed. Claims to be “canceled.”
Dave Chappelle: Netflix gave him $60 million. Claims to be “silenced.”
Joe Rogan: $200 million Spotify deal. Claims to be “censored.”
Jordan Peterson: Best-selling books, massive following. Claims to be “suppressed.”
Tucker Carlson: Fired from Fox, immediately started his own show. Claims to be “silenced.”
These people are not canceled. They have massive platforms, audiences, and income. But claiming victimhood is profitable. It creates loyalty, generates outrage, and sells books.
What Gets Ignored While We Fight About This
While we argue about college speakers being disinvited and comedians complaining they can’t make jokes anymore, here’s what gets less attention:
• Over 3,300 books banned or challenged in schools (2021-2023)
• Teachers fired for teaching accurate history
• State laws restricting classroom discussion
• Government retaliation against companies for speech
• Librarians threatened with prosecution
A college disinviting a speaker generates weeks of coverage. A state banning books gets a few articles. A celebrity facing Twitter criticism becomes a national story. A teacher fired for having diverse books is local news.
The focus on “cancel culture” as a progressive problem distracts from actual government censorship happening right now, in legislatures, affecting teachers, librarians, and students.
The Bottom Line
Cancel culture exists. People face consequences for speech. Sometimes those consequences are justified, sometimes they’re not. Social media pile-ons can be cruel. People lose opportunities they probably shouldn’t have lost.
But the data shows:
• Most people who claim to be “canceled” face no real consequences
• The people most successfully canceled in recent years were canceled by conservatives (Dixie Chicks, Kaepernick)
• Actual government censorship (book bans, teacher gag orders) is happening now, led by Republicans
• The loudest complaints about “cancel culture” come from people who are still employed, published, and platformed
• “Woke” has become a meaningless term used to dismiss any recognition of injustice
This doesn’t mean progressive overreach doesn’t exist. It does. But when you compare Twitter arguments to state legislatures banning books, when you compare celebrities apologizing to teachers being fired by governments, when you compare criticism to actual censorship—the scale is different.
The people claiming they’re being silenced often have the largest platforms. The people actually being silenced—teachers, librarians, students who can’t access books—get less attention because their silencing is boring and local and doesn’t generate clicks.
Cancel culture is real. But it’s not what you think it is, it’s not who you think it affects, and the people complaining loudest about it are often doing it most effectively.
Even that's Odd 
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