This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 30, 2019, former US President Barack Obama addressed the issue of online cancel culture during an event for the Obama Foundation in Chicago. He was joined by actress and activist Yara Shahidi in a conversation with a group of youths.
Obama expressed his concerns about the culture of online activism, where individuals feel empowered to criticize others without taking concrete actions to bring about change. He emphasized that people who do good work are not perfect and have flaws, and that those who are fighting for a cause may share common values with their opponents.
Obama's comments were a response to the current US President Donald Trump's use of social media to run the country and the government. This has led to the rise of online activists and revolutionaries, who often use social media to spread their message and criticize others.
Obama's words were directed at individuals who use social media to feel good about themselves by criticizing others, but do not take concrete actions to bring about change. He emphasized that true activism involves more than just casting stones and that people should focus on working together to achieve common goals.
Watch the full video of Obama's speech courtesy of NBC News:
WATCH: President Obama slams online cancel culture: "This idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're always politically woke, and all that stuff — you should get over that quickly." pic.twitter.com/lWnE9Zk7Na — NBC News (@NBCNews) October 30, 2019
