Cancel Culture isn’t what it used to be.
The scourge left artists fearing for their careers over the past decade. Say the “wrong” thing, or forget to erase a “problematic” post from years gone by, and your livelihood could be at risk.
This applies to artists as well as everyday citizens.
Sanity is making a comeback in recent months. The November election results helped restore a sense of normalcy. Or, as actress-turned-filmmaker Justine Bateman said post-Nov. 5, it feels like we can breathe again.
Tell that to MoveOn.org. The group, formed to defend MeToo perpetrator President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, just published a petition demanding a popular comedian lose his Netflix gig.
Tony Hinchcliffe takes no prisoners on stage. He’s the host of “Kill Tony,” a podcast where anything goes, comedically speaking.
He proved that with his infamous Madison Square Garden appearance last fall on behalf of President Donald Trump’s campaign. His sharp-elbowed gags, including a crack about Puerto Rico’s garbage problem, got magnified by the Legacy Media.
Except Trump ended up defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Handily. And Hinchcliffe’s star continued its ascent while roast comedy made a comeback on Netflix.
It’s why the platform signed him to a multi-tiered deal earlier this year. The deal includes a “Kill Tony” Netflix closeup and a stand-up special from the Austin-based comic.
Not if the flailing woke movement has anything to say about it.
Incendiary rhetoric like the kind we see from Hinchcliffe can create a more tense and unwelcoming political climate. [Editor’s Note: Is there a similar petition decrying the attacks on Tesla cars and drivers?] Streaming platforms have a major impact on culture, and they have a responsibility to ensure they’re not amplifying racist rhetoric with dangerous consequences—especially at a time when immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities are facing unprecedented attacks.
Netflix has more than 300 million subscribers worldwide and nearly 5 million in the U.S. and Canada. Their viewership is diverse and has significant reach across the country. It is a betrayal to its customers and the general public for Netflix to platform a comedian known for his racist and dehumanizing content just so it can profit off of the controversy. Giving Hinchcliffe FOUR comedy specials is reckless, irresponsible, and exploitative.
So far, the petition has 43K votes.
Netflix is unlikely to be swayed by the effort. Why? The previous Cancel Culture attack on Dave Chappelle proved far more ferocious than a single petition in 2021.
It. Is. Time.
Dave Chappelle: The Closer, is now streaming! pic.twitter.com/LpvTKdXBsx
— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) October 5, 2021
The streaming giant faced pressure from multiple sides, including Legacy Media outlets eager for a free speech scalp. Furious Netflix workers picketed the company, demanding action.
Netflix refused to budge, telling employees if they didn’t like the content on the platform they can find work elsewhere.
Cancel Culture suffered a sizable blow with that failure. It’s only grown weaker since then. It’ll be a shock if the streamer takes the petition seriously.
The post Petition Demands Netflix Fire Tony Hinchcliffe appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.