exchemist
Valued Senior Member
Though he won’t get anything like the same reach, presumably. So another nail in the coffin of free media.
On "Cancel Culture"
- Thread starter Tiassa
- Start date
This is somewhat complicated. As far as numbers go, he could conceivably reach more people on the right streaming platform. However, the issue here, I think, is the demographics. The audience for late night network talk shows is largely comprised of older people--over 45 or 50--and these are the people who, largely, do not avail themselves to alternative media sources like podcasts, less mainstream publications, etc. And Colbert offers takes that this older demographic is often not exposed to.
IOW you are correct. I am just clarifying the sense in which "reach" ought to perhaps be conceived here--that is to say, a consideration of specific demographics as opposed to simply the raw numbers.
And apologies for the weird phrasing here: I'm somewhat agitated at the moment over what appears to me, at least, to be someone sweeping allegations of antisemitism under the rug, via willful obfuscation and erasure, elsewhere. This sort of agitation often triggers a particular variety of aphasia in me.
TheVat
Valued Senior Member
Well, everything's a potential coffin nail when it comes to late night broadcasting. CBS was losing $40M/yr on TLS, and more people were watching Colbert in excerpted chunks tossed onto YT or other streams rather than as a late night appointment. In a way, I guess this is CBS admitting that it can't keep a legacy program going. IIRC, another late talk show had to give up their house band to survive - such shows are productions that cost way more than their leaner counterparts on the web. (I haven't had an antenna or cable for decades, so I only knew Colbert et al through clips of his opening monologue on the web, or rare viewings in a motel room). Possibly, a web Colbert with fewer of the rigid guardrails of network tv, could be a happy discovery for younger viewers.
exchemist
Valued Senior Member
Let’s hope. At any rate he intends to carry on, I gather.
The Continuing Adventures of Angry Christians
see also, #297: "Christian Redpill Cancel Culture"↑
News of the faithless:
Yeah, that last kind of did it. Christian "cancel culture" sounded off:
And in its way, it only goes downhill from there—
—but that part gets complicated, requiring some attention to detail. In its way, though, that discussion seems particularly craven and extemporary, but that's less a discussion of cancel culture and more an exploration of psychopathology.
____________________
Notes:
Montgomery, Peter. "Trump-Loving Religious Right Reserves Outrage for TV Show Treating Gay Couple & Kids as a Family". Right Wing Watch. 22 July 2025. PeopleFor.org. 22 July 2025. https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwing...rves-outrage-tv-show-treating-gay-couple-kids
See Also:
Einselen, Sarah. "Died: John MacArthur, Reformed Expositor with Worldwide Reach—and Tainted Legacy". The Roys Report. 14 July 2025. JulieRoys.com. 22 July 2025. https://julieroys.com/died-john-mac...itor-with-worldwide-reach-and-tainted-legacy/
Mouser, Jessica. "Chip and Joanna Gaines Controversy Continues To Prompt a Flood of Responses From Christian Leaders". ChurchLeaders. 21 July 2025. ChurchLeaders.com. 22 July 2025. https://churchleaders.com/news/5152...-controversy-continues-christian-leaders.html
see also, #297: "Christian Redpill Cancel Culture"↑
News of the faithless:
While many Americans are focused on President Donald Trump's desperate efforts to divert attention from evidence of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and on the shocking cruelty of ICE abduction and detention operations, religious-right activists have spent more than a week ranting about a different "outrage": the fact that a television reality show treats a same-sex couple and their kids as a family ....
.... Far-right pastors and leaders of religious-right groups have piled on, railing against the show's simple recognition that these two dads and their 10-year-old twins are a family like millions of other American families. As Right Wing Watch reported, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's pastor called the show "evil," "wicked," "demonic," and "a satanic Trojan Horse."
Chip Gaines further angered anti-LGBTQ zealots when he challenged their intolerance, tweeting,
(Montgomery↱)
.... Far-right pastors and leaders of religious-right groups have piled on, railing against the show's simple recognition that these two dads and their 10-year-old twins are a family like millions of other American families. As Right Wing Watch reported, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's pastor called the show "evil," "wicked," "demonic," and "a satanic Trojan Horse."
Chip Gaines further angered anti-LGBTQ zealots when he challenged their intolerance, tweeting,
Talk, ask qustns, listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never
It's a sad sunday when "non believers" have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian
It's a sad sunday when "non believers" have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian
(Montgomery↱)
Yeah, that last kind of did it. Christian "cancel culture" sounded off:
Generations, an anti-LGBTQ publisher of homeschooling curricula and promoter of a daily radio show it says is heard on 140 stations, on Monday cited an unnamed source claiming that the Gaineses have "long affirmed perversion." The show, also distributed as an email newsletter, also quoted right-wing activists Matt Walsh and Robby Starbuck, the latter claiming, "Promoting this show means cash is greater than Christianity."
On Monday, the website ChurchLeaders reported on the continuing "flood" of conservative Christians attacking the Gaineses. Among those joining the attack: MAGA musician and activist Sean Feucht called the show "filth"; Christian nationalist William Wolfe, who called the show a "sellout" and "tragic surrender"; anti-LGBTQ activist John Amanchukwu, a fellow at the MAGA Center for Renewing America who travels the country to rant at school board members; former Trump attorney and confessed felon Jenna Ellis, who tweeted, "This homosexual group + purchased children are not a family"; Megan Basham, who pointed a finger at the Gaines' church and pastor; and, of course, Trump apologist Eric Metaxas.
Religious-right podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey—who by the way is a big fan of Trump's anti-immigrant henchman Stephen Miller and denounces "toxic empathy"—devoted a show to slamming the Gaineses for promoting what she called "forced motherlessness" and "functional transgenderism." She called Chip Gaines' response to his critics' judgementalism "left-wing secular slop."
On Monday, the website ChurchLeaders reported on the continuing "flood" of conservative Christians attacking the Gaineses. Among those joining the attack: MAGA musician and activist Sean Feucht called the show "filth"; Christian nationalist William Wolfe, who called the show a "sellout" and "tragic surrender"; anti-LGBTQ activist John Amanchukwu, a fellow at the MAGA Center for Renewing America who travels the country to rant at school board members; former Trump attorney and confessed felon Jenna Ellis, who tweeted, "This homosexual group + purchased children are not a family"; Megan Basham, who pointed a finger at the Gaines' church and pastor; and, of course, Trump apologist Eric Metaxas.
Religious-right podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey—who by the way is a big fan of Trump's anti-immigrant henchman Stephen Miller and denounces "toxic empathy"—devoted a show to slamming the Gaineses for promoting what she called "forced motherlessness" and "functional transgenderism." She called Chip Gaines' response to his critics' judgementalism "left-wing secular slop."
And in its way, it only goes downhill from there—
ChurchLeaders noted that some Gaines critics are comparing the couple unfavorably to the recently deceased influential right-wing pastor John MacArthur, who is being showered with posthumous praise as a champion of conservative values despite his documented record of "protecting abusers while punishing their victims."
—but that part gets complicated, requiring some attention to detail. In its way, though, that discussion seems particularly craven and extemporary, but that's less a discussion of cancel culture and more an exploration of psychopathology.
____________________
Notes:
Montgomery, Peter. "Trump-Loving Religious Right Reserves Outrage for TV Show Treating Gay Couple & Kids as a Family". Right Wing Watch. 22 July 2025. PeopleFor.org. 22 July 2025. https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwing...rves-outrage-tv-show-treating-gay-couple-kids
See Also:
Einselen, Sarah. "Died: John MacArthur, Reformed Expositor with Worldwide Reach—and Tainted Legacy". The Roys Report. 14 July 2025. JulieRoys.com. 22 July 2025. https://julieroys.com/died-john-mac...itor-with-worldwide-reach-and-tainted-legacy/
Mouser, Jessica. "Chip and Joanna Gaines Controversy Continues To Prompt a Flood of Responses From Christian Leaders". ChurchLeaders. 21 July 2025. ChurchLeaders.com. 22 July 2025. https://churchleaders.com/news/5152...-controversy-continues-christian-leaders.html
Wizard of Whatever
Registered Senior Member
The program failed as all do that invest too much for too little return.
davewhite04
Valued Senior Member
I think cancel culture is a double edged sword, like the internet. Some people shouldn't have free speech if they are con artists, haters against anyone different to them etc. cancel them.
I think YouTube does a good job, I mean I was ecstatic when they took down russell brand who just spouted complete nonsense and had 4million subscribers!? He's a pervert.
Cancel Culture: How It's Going
Is it cancel culture when the judge you appointed says you can't censor?
An historical bauble: "The lawsuit was brought by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Sociological Association and Eugene School District 4J in Oregon"; i.e., Once again, Oregon busts on fascists.
____________________
Notes:
Rivas, Yunior. "Federal Court Blocks Trump's Effort to Censor Schools, End Equity Programs". Democracy Docket. 14 August 2025. DemocracyDocket.com. 15 August 2025. https://www.democracydocket.com/new...effort-to-censor-schools-end-equity-programs/
Is it cancel culture when the judge you appointed says you can't censor?
A federal judge in Maryland struck down two nationwide directives issued by the Trump administration, that sought to rewrite civil rights law and censor classrooms in an effort to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools.
The orders — issued in February and April by the Department of Education — threatened to withhold federal funding from school districts unless they removed or altered lessons on race, dismantled student support programs serving particular communities and signed certifications swearing compliance with the administration's new interpretation of federal civil rights law.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher, appointed by President Donald Trump, declared the orders unlawful, unconstitutional and void, and permanently blocked their enforcement.
In her decision Thursday, Gallagher found that the rules were so vaguely written that schools could not determine what was prohibited — a violation of the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of due process.
"The government did not merely remind educators that discrimination is illegal. It initiated a sea change in how the Department of Education regulates educational practices and classroom conduct, causing millions of educators to reasonably fear that their lawful, and even beneficial, speech might cause them or their schools to be punished," Gallagher wrote. "The regulation of speech cannot be done casually."
(Rivas↱)
The orders — issued in February and April by the Department of Education — threatened to withhold federal funding from school districts unless they removed or altered lessons on race, dismantled student support programs serving particular communities and signed certifications swearing compliance with the administration's new interpretation of federal civil rights law.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher, appointed by President Donald Trump, declared the orders unlawful, unconstitutional and void, and permanently blocked their enforcement.
In her decision Thursday, Gallagher found that the rules were so vaguely written that schools could not determine what was prohibited — a violation of the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of due process.
"The government did not merely remind educators that discrimination is illegal. It initiated a sea change in how the Department of Education regulates educational practices and classroom conduct, causing millions of educators to reasonably fear that their lawful, and even beneficial, speech might cause them or their schools to be punished," Gallagher wrote. "The regulation of speech cannot be done casually."
(Rivas↱)
An historical bauble: "The lawsuit was brought by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Sociological Association and Eugene School District 4J in Oregon"; i.e., Once again, Oregon busts on fascists.
____________________
Notes:
Rivas, Yunior. "Federal Court Blocks Trump's Effort to Censor Schools, End Equity Programs". Democracy Docket. 14 August 2025. DemocracyDocket.com. 15 August 2025. https://www.democracydocket.com/new...effort-to-censor-schools-end-equity-programs/
ThazzarBaal
Registered Senior Member
PC thought police United on the move to cancel with a vengeance... I'm a victim, I must admit. Do you hear me? Hello? Hell ....
Oh
By the way, I only agree with about 70% so I'm frucked! And, I operate under standard Luciferian principles , which makes it all the more sense less. Imo
Last edited:
But Is It Cancel Culture? (#WhatTheyVotedFor)
Australian poet John Kinsella has reportedly been denied entry to the United States, ostensibly for his political views. Per Joyce Carol Oates↱:
In a subsequent post, Oates named Kinsella↱ in response to particular inquiry from an Australian author. At present, this reads like breaking news, seemingly unconfirmed.
What is not breaking news is that such petty authoritarianism is one of the enduring sources↗ of conservative appeal.¹ Compared to manipulating the Little League World Series, the prospect of refusing a peacenik Australian entry to the United States is entirely plausible and believable. We'll have to see how this develops, what other details emerge.
____________________
Notes:
Hinckley, David. "'Love It or Leave It': Resurrecting the Worst of America's Political Legacy". 15 July 2019. Medium.com. 26 August 2025. https://dhinckley.medium.com/love-i...st-of-america-s-political-legacy-9fcf028b0cc4
See Also:
Kinsella, John. "How Does Activist Poetry Cope With Ambiguity?" The Kenyon Review. Jan./Feb. 2018. KenyonReview.org. 26 Augsut 2025. https://kenyonreview.org/kr-online-issue/2018-janfeb/selections/john-kinsella-656342/
Australian poet John Kinsella has reportedly been denied entry to the United States, ostensibly for his political views. Per Joyce Carol Oates↱:
a major Australian poet/writer has been denied a visa to the US to lecture/give readings; probably because he is outspoken politically, a pacifist. but friends are assuring him that he is much better off not stepping on US soil. with his reputation, however low-keyed, he could wind up detained by ICE & kept in custody for weeks.
word must be spreading slowly, that anyone with even the mildest "political" reputation would think of coming to the US under T***p.
word must be spreading slowly, that anyone with even the mildest "political" reputation would think of coming to the US under T***p.
In a subsequent post, Oates named Kinsella↱ in response to particular inquiry from an Australian author. At present, this reads like breaking news, seemingly unconfirmed.
What is not breaking news is that such petty authoritarianism is one of the enduring sources↗ of conservative appeal.¹ Compared to manipulating the Little League World Series, the prospect of refusing a peacenik Australian entry to the United States is entirely plausible and believable. We'll have to see how this develops, what other details emerge.
____________________
Notes:
¹ The phrase, "Love It or Leave It" has long been an American antiliberal slogan of conservative patriots; see David Hinckley↱, six years ago:
「“Love it or leave it,” in 2019 as in 1968, is the call of the playground bully, someone who hopes to win by intimidation and feels confident that the crowd cheering him on is unbothered by the fact that if three of the president's four targets went back to the country where they came from, it would be America.」
Hinckley, David. "'Love It or Leave It': Resurrecting the Worst of America's Political Legacy". 15 July 2019. Medium.com. 26 August 2025. https://dhinckley.medium.com/love-i...st-of-america-s-political-legacy-9fcf028b0cc4
See Also:
Kinsella, John. "How Does Activist Poetry Cope With Ambiguity?" The Kenyon Review. Jan./Feb. 2018. KenyonReview.org. 26 Augsut 2025. https://kenyonreview.org/kr-online-issue/2018-janfeb/selections/john-kinsella-656342/
¡Those Darn Texas Liberals!
Joyce Carol Oates↱ comments on liberal cancel culture in the extreme left paradise otherwise known as Texas:
Oh, wait, you're telling me that was conservatives in a conservative state doing the day-ends-in-y censorship thing conservatives always do?
I thought the whole cancel culture thing was supposed to be some sort of liberal conspiracy, or whatever, but apparently we're still at "theology isn't biology" vs. "nobody gave you permission to speak!" and when those uppity libs keep talking, that forces people to vote for Donald Trump.
Five years ago↑, when someone asked, I replied that cancel culture is largely a canard. This time later, maybe I stand corrected, but the difference between largely and pretty much entirely might someday prove significant. In the end, it's always just what it looked and sounded like, the latest self-righteous defense of bigotry.
Joyce Carol Oates↱ comments on liberal cancel culture in the extreme left paradise otherwise known as Texas:
a visitor at a Texas university reports that new Texas laws forbid instructors discussing gender in any circumstances; even if tenured, professors can be fired for teaching anything to do with LGBTQA+; no books by gay authors can be taught including books by James Baldwin. speaking of "socialism" in the classroom or even at out-of-state conferences is grounds for termination.
yes, but: Hillary had a "cackling laugh" & Kamala "laughed too much."
when I assembled "The Best American Essays of the 20th Century" there was one essayist so outstanding, I might have included several of his essays, & that was James Baldwin. now, I wonder if this anthology would be allowed on Texas university library shelves? would an instructor be fired for teaching it, even if not teaching the Baldwin essay?
under Texas law, instructors can't even discuss "gender" in the classroom? virtually all works of literature deal with "gender" at least obliquely. how are these laws enforced? are reading lists scrutinized by the administration? students encouraged to inform on instructors? how is the great university at Austin weathering this storm of repression?
yes, but: Hillary had a "cackling laugh" & Kamala "laughed too much."
when I assembled "The Best American Essays of the 20th Century" there was one essayist so outstanding, I might have included several of his essays, & that was James Baldwin. now, I wonder if this anthology would be allowed on Texas university library shelves? would an instructor be fired for teaching it, even if not teaching the Baldwin essay?
under Texas law, instructors can't even discuss "gender" in the classroom? virtually all works of literature deal with "gender" at least obliquely. how are these laws enforced? are reading lists scrutinized by the administration? students encouraged to inform on instructors? how is the great university at Austin weathering this storm of repression?
Oh, wait, you're telling me that was conservatives in a conservative state doing the day-ends-in-y censorship thing conservatives always do?
I thought the whole cancel culture thing was supposed to be some sort of liberal conspiracy, or whatever, but apparently we're still at "theology isn't biology" vs. "nobody gave you permission to speak!" and when those uppity libs keep talking, that forces people to vote for Donald Trump.
Five years ago↑, when someone asked, I replied that cancel culture is largely a canard. This time later, maybe I stand corrected, but the difference between largely and pretty much entirely might someday prove significant. In the end, it's always just what it looked and sounded like, the latest self-righteous defense of bigotry.
Damn That Liberal Canc―… Oh: You're Under Arrest Because Conservatives Are Stupid
The latest atrocity in the liberal war against free speech often described as cancel culture has taken another― Wait, what's that? You mean a man has been arrested for posting a meme quoting Donald Trump because conservatives thought he threatened to shoot up a school that doesn't exist after the fact? How does that make any sense?
WTVF↱ tries to explain:
Weems went on to complain that he asked Bushart to take the meme down, but the man declined: "I mean, what kind of person does that? What kind of person just says he don't care?"
The sheriff explained, "In my heart, I think Larry Bushart knew what he was doing once we made contact with him or when law enforcement made contact with him," and thus somehow broke the law post facto.
Phil Williams' story for NewsChannel 5 Investgates posted on Tuesday. On Wednesday afternoon, he was able to report↱ that charges against Larry Bushart have been dropped.
Yeah, those damn liberals, eh? Always tryin' to shut down discussion by arresting people for posting memes that quote conservative politicians.
____________________
Notes:
Williams, Phil. "A Tenn. sheriff claimed Larry Bushart refused to take down a meme after being told it was causing fear of school shooting but police video shows there was never any discussion of a school". News Channel 5 Investigates. 29 October 2025. NewsChannel5.com. 29 October 2025. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/n...rrest-of-tennessee-man-for-posting-trump-meme
—————. "Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting". News Channel 5 Investigates. 28 October 2025. NewsChannel5.com. 28 October 2025. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/n...-for-posting-trump-meme-about-school-shooting
The latest atrocity in the liberal war against free speech often described as cancel culture has taken another― Wait, what's that? You mean a man has been arrested for posting a meme quoting Donald Trump because conservatives thought he threatened to shoot up a school that doesn't exist after the fact? How does that make any sense?
WTVF↱ tries to explain:
A Middle Tennessee sheriff is defending the arrest of a man who posted an online meme quoting President Donald Trump.
Larry Bushart, 61, of Lexington, Tenn., faces felony charges for threatening a mass shooting at Perry County High School – even though Sheriff Nick Weems admits the meme does not actually contain any threatening words that led investigators to think it was a real threat.
The case, Weems said, hinges on how some people in Perry County may have interpreted the meme that noted Trump's response to a school shooting in Perry, Iowa. Bushart has sat in jail for more than a month, unable to make the $2 million bond set by a local judge.
"This has everything to do with a guy coming onto a Perry County page posting this picture leading people in our community to believe that there was a hypothetical Perry County High School shooting that caused fear in our community – and we done something about it," Sheriff Weems said in an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 5 Investigates ....
.... The meme that landed Bushart in jail – part of a discussion about Charlie Kirk's murder – included the quote from President Donald Trump that "we have to get over it" and noted that Trump made that remark "on the Perry High School mass shooting one day after."
Two people were killed and six injured during the shooting in Perry, Iowa, back in January.
The meme includes the caption, "This seems relevant today."
Sheriff Weems said some in his community took the reference in the Trump meme to "Perry High School" to be a suggestion that he planned to shoot up Perry County High School, which had recently had to deal with a threat from a student.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates noted, "It doesn't say Perry County High School."
"It says 'Perry High School mass shooting one day after,' ok? That led people to believe in our county that he's talking about Perry County High School – because it doesn't say 'Iowa' either."
We pressed the sheriff, "But you also knew this was an existing meme that was already out there on the Internet."
"Correct," Weems agreed.
Again, we noted, "So it's clear that he's not talking about Perry County High School."
"We knew," the sheriff said. "The public did not know."
Larry Bushart, 61, of Lexington, Tenn., faces felony charges for threatening a mass shooting at Perry County High School – even though Sheriff Nick Weems admits the meme does not actually contain any threatening words that led investigators to think it was a real threat.
The case, Weems said, hinges on how some people in Perry County may have interpreted the meme that noted Trump's response to a school shooting in Perry, Iowa. Bushart has sat in jail for more than a month, unable to make the $2 million bond set by a local judge.
"This has everything to do with a guy coming onto a Perry County page posting this picture leading people in our community to believe that there was a hypothetical Perry County High School shooting that caused fear in our community – and we done something about it," Sheriff Weems said in an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 5 Investigates ....
.... The meme that landed Bushart in jail – part of a discussion about Charlie Kirk's murder – included the quote from President Donald Trump that "we have to get over it" and noted that Trump made that remark "on the Perry High School mass shooting one day after."
Two people were killed and six injured during the shooting in Perry, Iowa, back in January.
The meme includes the caption, "This seems relevant today."
Sheriff Weems said some in his community took the reference in the Trump meme to "Perry High School" to be a suggestion that he planned to shoot up Perry County High School, which had recently had to deal with a threat from a student.
NewsChannel 5 Investigates noted, "It doesn't say Perry County High School."
"It says 'Perry High School mass shooting one day after,' ok? That led people to believe in our county that he's talking about Perry County High School – because it doesn't say 'Iowa' either."
We pressed the sheriff, "But you also knew this was an existing meme that was already out there on the Internet."
"Correct," Weems agreed.
Again, we noted, "So it's clear that he's not talking about Perry County High School."
"We knew," the sheriff said. "The public did not know."
Weems went on to complain that he asked Bushart to take the meme down, but the man declined: "I mean, what kind of person does that? What kind of person just says he don't care?"
The sheriff explained, "In my heart, I think Larry Bushart knew what he was doing once we made contact with him or when law enforcement made contact with him," and thus somehow broke the law post facto.
†
Phil Williams' story for NewsChannel 5 Investgates posted on Tuesday. On Wednesday afternoon, he was able to report↱ that charges against Larry Bushart have been dropped.
Yeah, those damn liberals, eh? Always tryin' to shut down discussion by arresting people for posting memes that quote conservative politicians.
____________________
Notes:
Williams, Phil. "A Tenn. sheriff claimed Larry Bushart refused to take down a meme after being told it was causing fear of school shooting but police video shows there was never any discussion of a school". News Channel 5 Investigates. 29 October 2025. NewsChannel5.com. 29 October 2025. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/n...rrest-of-tennessee-man-for-posting-trump-meme
—————. "Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting". News Channel 5 Investigates. 28 October 2025. NewsChannel5.com. 28 October 2025. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/n...-for-posting-trump-meme-about-school-shooting
CBS News & Dog Phrenology
So, we're back to phrenology, except he doesn't believe in phrenology except when he does.
And that's the Bari Weiss update. Self-cancellation has led her to extraordinary heights; indeed, not cancelled at all.
So, we're back to phrenology, except he doesn't believe in phrenology except when he does.
And that's the Bari Weiss update. Self-cancellation has led her to extraordinary heights; indeed, not cancelled at all.
But Is It "Cancel Culture"?
Something strikes in South Australia: The right-wing Liberal Party is abandoning its candidate, Carston Woodhouse, ahead of next week's election. Hemant Mehta↱ tries to fill in the detail:
Mehta goes on to comment that such extremism "feels downright mild when considering the Republican Party these days, but it's still considered extreme in large swaths of Australia". Labor spox Blair Boyer said, "These aren't mild views", and accused, "Either this is the views of the Liberal Party now … or they didn't vet him."
Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn tried to split the difference; per Mehta, "she initially acted like it was no big deal. She didn't personally agree with them, she insisted, but people are allowed to believe what they want." And while it's "not something that sits well" with Hurn, "He's allowed to have his views", and, moreover, she would "not stop someone from having an opinion". And, given the looming election date, Hurn said Woodhouse would remain the candidate.
That changed quickly, and by Thursday, Woodhouse was out. And while his candidate page from the Party website is gone, he remains on the payroll.
But is it "cancel culture"? After all, the most part of lamentation against cancel culture worries about actual liberals. The great Australian misnomer is a conservative party; this would, as such, be an example of right-on-right cancel culture.
To the other, compared to a more liberal take on the idea of cancel culture, the abandonment of Woodhouse looks more like a calculated business decision; perhaps the only thing about it that is surprising is the difference between thresholds; Mehta is not wrong that the rhetoric feels mild compared to the Republican Party in the United States. Toss a coin: Heads, Australians have higher standards; tails, don't worry, Aussie rightists, your politicians will catch up soon.
____________________
Notes:
Mehta, Hemant. "South Australia political party dumps Christian candidate over anti-gay, anti-feminist rants". Friendly Atheist. 14 March 2026. FriendlyAtheist.com. 14 March 2026. https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/south-australia-political-party-dumps
Something strikes in South Australia: The right-wing Liberal Party is abandoning its candidate, Carston Woodhouse, ahead of next week's election. Hemant Mehta↱ tries to fill in the detail:
I guess the party didn't do much vetting of this guy because Woodhouse is also a conservative Christian zealot who's done several interviews with the far-right religious ministry ElijahFire. And in two of those interviews—on July 13, 2023 alongside his wife Mandy Woodhouse and on February 7, 2025 by himself—he said a number of batshit crazy things ....
.... There was the story about how he witnessed witches melting at a church service ....
.... It got far more disturbing, though, when Woodhouse spoke about gay people and insisted same-sex marriage wasn't "real" ....
.... That whole interview was actually focused on the subject of abortion, and Woodhouse said he opposed it in all cases, including situations involving rape and incest—putting him well on the fringes of public opinion.
In the other interview, he said even more about homosexuality, claiming that accepting it opened up "demonic realms." Feminism, he added, was also "demonic."
.... There was the story about how he witnessed witches melting at a church service ....
.... It got far more disturbing, though, when Woodhouse spoke about gay people and insisted same-sex marriage wasn't "real" ....
.... That whole interview was actually focused on the subject of abortion, and Woodhouse said he opposed it in all cases, including situations involving rape and incest—putting him well on the fringes of public opinion.
In the other interview, he said even more about homosexuality, claiming that accepting it opened up "demonic realms." Feminism, he added, was also "demonic."
Mehta goes on to comment that such extremism "feels downright mild when considering the Republican Party these days, but it's still considered extreme in large swaths of Australia". Labor spox Blair Boyer said, "These aren't mild views", and accused, "Either this is the views of the Liberal Party now … or they didn't vet him."
Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn tried to split the difference; per Mehta, "she initially acted like it was no big deal. She didn't personally agree with them, she insisted, but people are allowed to believe what they want." And while it's "not something that sits well" with Hurn, "He's allowed to have his views", and, moreover, she would "not stop someone from having an opinion". And, given the looming election date, Hurn said Woodhouse would remain the candidate.
That changed quickly, and by Thursday, Woodhouse was out. And while his candidate page from the Party website is gone, he remains on the payroll.
Think about what this all means: Hurn's first instinct was to tolerate Woodhouse's bigotry until it became politically inconvenient. Why would anyone trust a party that embraces that sort of failure of moral judgment? The fact that they're not firing him still sends the unmistakable message that the problem was never his beliefs, only the bad press they generated before an election.
I gotta say: I'm jealous. It's good to see a political party thoroughly shamed for endorsing a man with such despicable views regardless of the fact that they stem from his Christian faith. Religion isn't a virtue and it's long past time we allow someone to use the shield of faith as cover for his outright bigotry and cruelty.
This is how politics should work. People whose views are completely outside the mainstream shouldn't be viable in any election, and when a party hides those views from the voters, they should be shamed and punished for it. It's wonderful that Woodhouse wasn't rewarded for extremism, like he would be in the U.S. He was exposed, challenged, and ultimately cast aside.
I gotta say: I'm jealous. It's good to see a political party thoroughly shamed for endorsing a man with such despicable views regardless of the fact that they stem from his Christian faith. Religion isn't a virtue and it's long past time we allow someone to use the shield of faith as cover for his outright bigotry and cruelty.
This is how politics should work. People whose views are completely outside the mainstream shouldn't be viable in any election, and when a party hides those views from the voters, they should be shamed and punished for it. It's wonderful that Woodhouse wasn't rewarded for extremism, like he would be in the U.S. He was exposed, challenged, and ultimately cast aside.
But is it "cancel culture"? After all, the most part of lamentation against cancel culture worries about actual liberals. The great Australian misnomer is a conservative party; this would, as such, be an example of right-on-right cancel culture.
To the other, compared to a more liberal take on the idea of cancel culture, the abandonment of Woodhouse looks more like a calculated business decision; perhaps the only thing about it that is surprising is the difference between thresholds; Mehta is not wrong that the rhetoric feels mild compared to the Republican Party in the United States. Toss a coin: Heads, Australians have higher standards; tails, don't worry, Aussie rightists, your politicians will catch up soon.
____________________
Notes:
Mehta, Hemant. "South Australia political party dumps Christian candidate over anti-gay, anti-feminist rants". Friendly Atheist. 14 March 2026. FriendlyAtheist.com. 14 March 2026. https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/south-australia-political-party-dumps
TheVat
Valued Senior Member
The abandonment of Woodhouse sounds like a political machine working like it's supposed to work, i.e. vet all competitors and select a strong candidate voters would vote for in a general election. Being a kooky zealot doesn't cancel you, it just means you get a podcast and/or a YouTube channel instead of a government office. I'd like to think Oz has higher standards (your "heads" choice). We get sociopathic real estate guys who bring in Dominionists and neo-Nazis and misc whackos on their coattails.
"These aren't mild views." Heh!
"These aren't mild views." Heh!
Libertarians Cancel New Hampshire
Party before liberty, that's the thing about being in politics:
It's just one of those things; it's not like we don't get their reasons, but it's a difficult contrast for libertarianism.
The flipside, of course, is that compared to the coincidence of libertarianism and supremacism, it stands out that the complaint includes "years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary". Again, it's not like we don't get it, but in this case it seems more like the cancellation might have more to do with who the "years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary" were aimed at than the mere fact of "years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary".
____________________
Notes:
Matherly, Charlotte. "NH Libertarians ejected from national party amid controversy and mockery". New Hampshire Public Radio. 28 May 2026. NHPR.org. 28 May 2026. https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-05-28/nh-libertarians-newhampshire-ejected-party-jeremy-kauffman
Party before liberty, that's the thing about being in politics:
The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire was kicked out of its national affiliation after leaders claimed those in the Granite State violated the party’s rules and ideals.
The decision, approved on a 15-2 vote by the Libertarian National Committee at its convention in Michigan over the weekend, followed a scathing speech and years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary from the state party and Jeremy Kauffman, who was recently elected to chair it.
“Are you guys stupid? Genuinely, like are you dumb?” Kauffman said. “The Libertarians in New Hampshire are not dumb. We win all the time. We have a strategy that works. We know how to be team players.”
Language from the motion to disaffiliate New Hampshire cited actions that “crudely and repeatedly undermined our own candidates and have espoused numerous anti-libertarian positions on a National level.” It did not list specific grievances, though Kauffman has repeatedly criticized the national party as ineffective and argued for its dissolution.
National leaders also took issue with the state party’s endorsement of Trump for president in 2024. Affiliated state parties aren’t allowed to endorse non-Libertarian candidates, according to the bylaws.
(Matherly↱)
The decision, approved on a 15-2 vote by the Libertarian National Committee at its convention in Michigan over the weekend, followed a scathing speech and years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary from the state party and Jeremy Kauffman, who was recently elected to chair it.
“Are you guys stupid? Genuinely, like are you dumb?” Kauffman said. “The Libertarians in New Hampshire are not dumb. We win all the time. We have a strategy that works. We know how to be team players.”
Language from the motion to disaffiliate New Hampshire cited actions that “crudely and repeatedly undermined our own candidates and have espoused numerous anti-libertarian positions on a National level.” It did not list specific grievances, though Kauffman has repeatedly criticized the national party as ineffective and argued for its dissolution.
National leaders also took issue with the state party’s endorsement of Trump for president in 2024. Affiliated state parties aren’t allowed to endorse non-Libertarian candidates, according to the bylaws.
(Matherly↱)
It's just one of those things; it's not like we don't get their reasons, but it's a difficult contrast for libertarianism.
The flipside, of course, is that compared to the coincidence of libertarianism and supremacism, it stands out that the complaint includes "years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary". Again, it's not like we don't get it, but in this case it seems more like the cancellation might have more to do with who the "years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary" were aimed at than the mere fact of "years of racist, threatening and controversial online commentary".
____________________
Notes:
Matherly, Charlotte. "NH Libertarians ejected from national party amid controversy and mockery". New Hampshire Public Radio. 28 May 2026. NHPR.org. 28 May 2026. https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-05-28/nh-libertarians-newhampshire-ejected-party-jeremy-kauffman
Cancel Culture Update: Loomer Claims Responsibility for Milo's Deportation Process
Milo Yiannopoulos is a rightist icon who persisted despite the blows of cancel culture deplatforming him not so much for his Nazi-sympathetic flirtations, but, rather, his boylove advocacy. It is very easy to recount his thing for getting controversial audio that fails to achieve any impact, e.g., neo-Nazi on "octaroons"↗, trad-wife on rape and marriage↗¹, but that's not really the question about Milo's pending cancellation.
Now in ICE custody and awaiting final order, the British right-winger who advocated mass deportation from the U.S. now faces deportation.
And in the most ridiculous and what ought to have been least unpredictable plot twist, Laura Loomer has claimed responsibility for Milo Yiannopoulos facing American cancellation. Jane Coaston↱ recounts the suggestion "that this was like the Night of Long Knives playing out in the parking lot of a Dollar General", and sure, maybe, but once again it seems cancel culture is a "right-on" phenomenon: Milo being "loomered", a "right-on-right" cancellation.
____________________
Notes:
Milo Yiannopoulos is a rightist icon who persisted despite the blows of cancel culture deplatforming him not so much for his Nazi-sympathetic flirtations, but, rather, his boylove advocacy. It is very easy to recount his thing for getting controversial audio that fails to achieve any impact, e.g., neo-Nazi on "octaroons"↗, trad-wife on rape and marriage↗¹, but that's not really the question about Milo's pending cancellation.
Now in ICE custody and awaiting final order, the British right-winger who advocated mass deportation from the U.S. now faces deportation.
And in the most ridiculous and what ought to have been least unpredictable plot twist, Laura Loomer has claimed responsibility for Milo Yiannopoulos facing American cancellation. Jane Coaston↱ recounts the suggestion "that this was like the Night of Long Knives playing out in the parking lot of a Dollar General", and sure, maybe, but once again it seems cancel culture is a "right-on" phenomenon: Milo being "loomered", a "right-on-right" cancellation.
____________________
Notes:
¹ see also February update↗ and commentary↗: "And he said the thing about his dick in response to Milo, effectively confirming the bit with booze, Benadryl, and blacking out", "Why is Milo the one who has the audio?"
Texans Turn Against Bronte
Oh, those liberal cancel culture people! Look at what they've done, now.
What? That's conservatives in Texas? Cancel culture! Cancel culture! Liberals are trying to silence Texans!
Y'know, by pointing out that Jane Eyre is the latest victim of angry conservative censorship.
See, this is why we don't get to laugh at the whole "cancel culture" clownery. People need to pretend mean liberals are out to silence them in order to distract attention from the actual censorship and cancellation that isn't really any different from what conservatives have been doing for generations.
And please do understand, the suckers who have fallen for this over the course of years aren't necessarily evil, but they should not be praised for being so incapable. The proverbial everybody else gets to lighten up about this stuff and try to move on once the villains stop trying villainy.
That's been the problem, throughout, with the "cancel culture" complaint; the alleged cancellation is so often a disruption of other cancellation: One is canceled if they cannot cancel another, as such, and it's not really a both-sides thing.
Which is why it's important to recognize, trying to cancel Jane Eyre isn't cancel culture, but good ol'fashioned American hatred and supremacism. This is the stuff of traditional conservative virtue.
Maybe it was the part where the poor girl told the rich man she was speaking "just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal – as we are!"
But we can only speculate, because traditionalism needs not justify itself, and has no obligation to make sense. What we do know is that enough Texans want a guilty-until-proven innocent standard for people they don't like; they would never tolerate such standards in anyone else's hands. Kind of like the whole screech against cancel culture.
Consider: If I refuse to censor, say, that book right there, have I committed an act of censorship? There is a reason why the people who might answer that question won't. More directly, who would I be censoring by refusing to censor Jane Eyre?
____________________
Notes:
Trimel, Suzanne. "Charlotte Bronte and Her Famous Heroine Jane Eyre Were Once the Talk of Texas. Now the Novel is Banned by Some of the State’s Public Schools". PEN America. 9 Spetmeber 2026. PEN.org. 13 October 2026. https://pen.org/jane-eyre-banned-in-texas/
Oh, those liberal cancel culture people! Look at what they've done, now.
What? That's conservatives in Texas? Cancel culture! Cancel culture! Liberals are trying to silence Texans!
Y'know, by pointing out that Jane Eyre is the latest victim of angry conservative censorship.
Women in Texas were once in the thrall of Charlotte Bronte and her literary masterpiece Jane Eyre. Back in the mid-1800s, Texans, along with the reading public as a whole, made the novel an immediate bestseller when it was published in 1848.
Seven years later, a schoolteacher organized the Texas Bronte Club, a milestone that created a literary gathering place and boasted a lending library that years later evolved into the Victoria Public Library. Though it ultimately became a civic organization that did good works in communities, books continued to hold a prominent place in the society's programs. The group thrived well into the 20th century, retaining its standing as the oldest literary group in the state and even once hosting a lecture by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Fast forward to 2026. Today the great Victorian-era romance novel with a pioneering feminist message has earned a new place in Texas history —an infamous one— with four school districts banning it as unsuitable for younger readers. This is happening, it's worth noting, at the same time that China made Jane Eyre compulsory reading for 14 and 15 year olds. Why? As a counter to social media and its touting of "materialistic culture and money."
You're not alone if the Texas ban on Jane Eyre is a head scratcher. After all, the book is consistently near the top of major literary canons, has been on school reading lists, likely for over a century, has no steamy content at all, and has been adapted for as many as 25 to 30 movies and television series, most rated PG.
Seven years later, a schoolteacher organized the Texas Bronte Club, a milestone that created a literary gathering place and boasted a lending library that years later evolved into the Victoria Public Library. Though it ultimately became a civic organization that did good works in communities, books continued to hold a prominent place in the society's programs. The group thrived well into the 20th century, retaining its standing as the oldest literary group in the state and even once hosting a lecture by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Fast forward to 2026. Today the great Victorian-era romance novel with a pioneering feminist message has earned a new place in Texas history —an infamous one— with four school districts banning it as unsuitable for younger readers. This is happening, it's worth noting, at the same time that China made Jane Eyre compulsory reading for 14 and 15 year olds. Why? As a counter to social media and its touting of "materialistic culture and money."
You're not alone if the Texas ban on Jane Eyre is a head scratcher. After all, the book is consistently near the top of major literary canons, has been on school reading lists, likely for over a century, has no steamy content at all, and has been adapted for as many as 25 to 30 movies and television series, most rated PG.
See, this is why we don't get to laugh at the whole "cancel culture" clownery. People need to pretend mean liberals are out to silence them in order to distract attention from the actual censorship and cancellation that isn't really any different from what conservatives have been doing for generations.
And please do understand, the suckers who have fallen for this over the course of years aren't necessarily evil, but they should not be praised for being so incapable. The proverbial everybody else gets to lighten up about this stuff and try to move on once the villains stop trying villainy.
That's been the problem, throughout, with the "cancel culture" complaint; the alleged cancellation is so often a disruption of other cancellation: One is canceled if they cannot cancel another, as such, and it's not really a both-sides thing.
Which is why it's important to recognize, trying to cancel Jane Eyre isn't cancel culture, but good ol'fashioned American hatred and supremacism. This is the stuff of traditional conservative virtue.
Reflecting Victorian values, the book contains no nudity or intimate physical acts (aside from the touch of a hand). The intensity between Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester is driven by psychological depth, dramatic dialogue, and emotional longing.
But Bronte's scrutiny of the conflict between emotion and rational thought made it controversial and critics then were scandalized by the book's emotional intensity.
So why did four school districts in Texas decide to remove this celebrated, classic novel from its libraries, picking up the aging thread of distaste from Victorian critics?
The 19th century's favorite orphan is likely a casualty of the Texas legislature. Since the passage of the SB 13 law in 2025, school administrators and librarians have found it impossible to confidently interpret the labels "profane" and "indecent" — part of the new, lower bar for what makes a book bannable in Texas. As a result, some districts have placed restrictions on anything written for adults, including classics.
But Bronte's scrutiny of the conflict between emotion and rational thought made it controversial and critics then were scandalized by the book's emotional intensity.
So why did four school districts in Texas decide to remove this celebrated, classic novel from its libraries, picking up the aging thread of distaste from Victorian critics?
The 19th century's favorite orphan is likely a casualty of the Texas legislature. Since the passage of the SB 13 law in 2025, school administrators and librarians have found it impossible to confidently interpret the labels "profane" and "indecent" — part of the new, lower bar for what makes a book bannable in Texas. As a result, some districts have placed restrictions on anything written for adults, including classics.
Maybe it was the part where the poor girl told the rich man she was speaking "just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal – as we are!"
But we can only speculate, because traditionalism needs not justify itself, and has no obligation to make sense. What we do know is that enough Texans want a guilty-until-proven innocent standard for people they don't like; they would never tolerate such standards in anyone else's hands. Kind of like the whole screech against cancel culture.
Consider: If I refuse to censor, say, that book right there, have I committed an act of censorship? There is a reason why the people who might answer that question won't. More directly, who would I be censoring by refusing to censor Jane Eyre?
____________________
Notes:
Trimel, Suzanne. "Charlotte Bronte and Her Famous Heroine Jane Eyre Were Once the Talk of Texas. Now the Novel is Banned by Some of the State’s Public Schools". PEN America. 9 Spetmeber 2026. PEN.org. 13 October 2026. https://pen.org/jane-eyre-banned-in-texas/
Evil Liberal Cancel Culture Strikes Again
A high school in Texas is the latest victim of liberal cancel culture after school officials canceled a play for the sake of conservative family values.
Hemant Mehta↱ explains:
Except that's not really happening.
The school pretends it is trying to comply with a Texas anti-diversity law that bars drag performance, and has been struck down twice, most recently in August.
Mehta observes, "As many argued when the law was being considered, Texas Republicans would have criminalized Shakespeare, whose plays are performed with plenty of 'gender-bending,' as well as Peter Pan (where the lead is routinely played by a woman)":
Student actress Ana Mota described the situation on Instagram, asserting a violation of Title IX: "I was excluded from participation in an education program receiving Federal financial assistance because I am a female."
The school district defends itself by claiming the musical involves an abusive relationship. Mehta notes, "somehow that wasn't an issue when they thought Seymour would be played by a boy". The thing is, the abusive relationship is between Audrey, the female lead, and another character. If this is the school's real reason for pulling the play, we can only wonder why they selected it in the first place. "Nor was it an issue," Mehta continues, "the last time the school performed this musical… four years ago."
Nor that another school in the district is performing the same play.
Parent Nancy Jiminez-Mota says she is prepared to move forward with litigation if the district does not relent, warning, "it's not going to be a pretty battle".
It's a Texas thing: Sherman ISD canceled its production of Oklahoma! because the lead went to a transgender boy. Keller ISD canceled its production of The Laramie Project, a murder story, for political concerns because the murder victim was gay. Both schools, humiliated by public outcry, relented. In Texas, conservatives really need this one; they're feeling canceled for not being able to cancel.
And that's a conservative thing. Like in Georgia, when they canceled The Crucible for concerns about witchcraft.
Which is why it is (morbidly) hilarious how people pretend "cancel culture" is some liberal phenomenon. The reality is that it's called "censorship", and the "cancel culture" variation has long been a tool in conservative politics.¹
And perhaps it is worth taking a moment to consider the fact that after six years of consideration in this thread, the long-rumored liberal cancel culture just isn't in evidence. And, yes, part of the point is to remind that if you were dumb enough to fall for that rightist bullshit, you should probably be ashamed.
That there are a lot of people who need to be ashamed does not justify their wrongness; that part was pretty obvious from the outset. It's like the ninety-nine percent argument↗: If you can get ninety-nine percent of people to ignore objective reality in favor of their make-believe surrogate, does that somehow mean they're right?
____________________
Notes:
Mehta, Hemant. "Texas school district cancels 'Little Shop of Horrors' after girl is cast as Seymour". Friendly Atheist. 14 October 2026. FriendlyAtheist.com. 14 October 2026. https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-school-district-cancels-little
A high school in Texas is the latest victim of liberal cancel culture after school officials canceled a play for the sake of conservative family values.
Hemant Mehta↱ explains:
This newsletter is free and goes out to over 26,000 subscribers, but it's only able to sustain itself due to the support I receive from a small percentage of regular readers. Would you please consider becoming one of those supporters? You can subscribe via Patreon or the Subscribe button below! You can also make one-time donations through Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal.
Another high school musical has been canceled because 1) Texas and 2) Conservatives.
This time, it happened at South Grand Prairie High School, located between Dallas and Fort Worth. The plan was to stage a production of Little Shop of Horrors, the classic musical about a nerdy florist, Seymour, who encounters a blood-thirsty plant, all while trying to win the heart of his beloved co-worker Audrey. The show is famous enough that it's practically a staple of high school theater.
The thing about high school musicals, though, is that you usually have more girls participating than boys, and some male parts have notes that may be tough for maturing boys to reach. For that reason, it's not unusual to see a male part played by a girl. (When I was in high school, a girl played the lead role in our production of Oliver!)
That's what happened at South Grand Prairie.
The role of Seymour went to 17-year-old senior Ana Mota, who had previously played other male roles like Pinocchio and Jack in Into the Woods without a problem.
A week into rehearsals, though, she was told she could no longer play the part. Not because she had done anything wrong, but because this was Texas, and the casting was going to get the school in trouble.
Another high school musical has been canceled because 1) Texas and 2) Conservatives.
This time, it happened at South Grand Prairie High School, located between Dallas and Fort Worth. The plan was to stage a production of Little Shop of Horrors, the classic musical about a nerdy florist, Seymour, who encounters a blood-thirsty plant, all while trying to win the heart of his beloved co-worker Audrey. The show is famous enough that it's practically a staple of high school theater.
The thing about high school musicals, though, is that you usually have more girls participating than boys, and some male parts have notes that may be tough for maturing boys to reach. For that reason, it's not unusual to see a male part played by a girl. (When I was in high school, a girl played the lead role in our production of Oliver!)
That's what happened at South Grand Prairie.
The role of Seymour went to 17-year-old senior Ana Mota, who had previously played other male roles like Pinocchio and Jack in Into the Woods without a problem.
A week into rehearsals, though, she was told she could no longer play the part. Not because she had done anything wrong, but because this was Texas, and the casting was going to get the school in trouble.
Except that's not really happening.
The school pretends it is trying to comply with a Texas anti-diversity law that bars drag performance, and has been struck down twice, most recently in August.
Mehta observes, "As many argued when the law was being considered, Texas Republicans would have criminalized Shakespeare, whose plays are performed with plenty of 'gender-bending,' as well as Peter Pan (where the lead is routinely played by a woman)":
But the fear that lawmakers will go after a school district for something as petty as this is apparently scary enough that district officials didn't want to test them.
Ana and her mother rightly objected to this re-casting—not because she was upset to lose the lead, but because the district was forcing it to satisfy a law that wasn't even in effect. So they met with district officials last week. Ana was then given an ultimatum: Accept the new role or the entire show would be canceled.
The district was specifically concerned that "the show placed Seymour and Audrey in a romantic relationship, and that ran afoul of the struck-down law's language," because that was somehow sexual—and, in this case, it would involve two female students. But for what it's worth, even though the two characters kiss in the musical, high school productions often work around that, and that was the plan here regardless of who played the leads.
Ana and her mother didn't accept the re-casting for those reasons… and so the district canceled the show entirely. The school announced it would start searching for a different musical to produce.
Ana and her mother rightly objected to this re-casting—not because she was upset to lose the lead, but because the district was forcing it to satisfy a law that wasn't even in effect. So they met with district officials last week. Ana was then given an ultimatum: Accept the new role or the entire show would be canceled.
The district was specifically concerned that "the show placed Seymour and Audrey in a romantic relationship, and that ran afoul of the struck-down law's language," because that was somehow sexual—and, in this case, it would involve two female students. But for what it's worth, even though the two characters kiss in the musical, high school productions often work around that, and that was the plan here regardless of who played the leads.
Ana and her mother didn't accept the re-casting for those reasons… and so the district canceled the show entirely. The school announced it would start searching for a different musical to produce.
Student actress Ana Mota described the situation on Instagram, asserting a violation of Title IX: "I was excluded from participation in an education program receiving Federal financial assistance because I am a female."
The school district defends itself by claiming the musical involves an abusive relationship. Mehta notes, "somehow that wasn't an issue when they thought Seymour would be played by a boy". The thing is, the abusive relationship is between Audrey, the female lead, and another character. If this is the school's real reason for pulling the play, we can only wonder why they selected it in the first place. "Nor was it an issue," Mehta continues, "the last time the school performed this musical… four years ago."
Nor that another school in the district is performing the same play.
Parent Nancy Jiminez-Mota says she is prepared to move forward with litigation if the district does not relent, warning, "it's not going to be a pretty battle".
It's a Texas thing: Sherman ISD canceled its production of Oklahoma! because the lead went to a transgender boy. Keller ISD canceled its production of The Laramie Project, a murder story, for political concerns because the murder victim was gay. Both schools, humiliated by public outcry, relented. In Texas, conservatives really need this one; they're feeling canceled for not being able to cancel.
And that's a conservative thing. Like in Georgia, when they canceled The Crucible for concerns about witchcraft.
Which is why it is (morbidly) hilarious how people pretend "cancel culture" is some liberal phenomenon. The reality is that it's called "censorship", and the "cancel culture" variation has long been a tool in conservative politics.¹
And perhaps it is worth taking a moment to consider the fact that after six years of consideration in this thread, the long-rumored liberal cancel culture just isn't in evidence. And, yes, part of the point is to remind that if you were dumb enough to fall for that rightist bullshit, you should probably be ashamed.
That there are a lot of people who need to be ashamed does not justify their wrongness; that part was pretty obvious from the outset. It's like the ninety-nine percent argument↗: If you can get ninety-nine percent of people to ignore objective reality in favor of their make-believe surrogate, does that somehow mean they're right?
____________________
Notes:
¹ see #289↑ (2024) above:
Or, perhaps, #286↑:
「There is no cancel culture. The nearest thing in history is actually the old Christian-rightist phone banks and letter-writing campaigns, an actual cultural identity invested in organized response and civic action. Think of it this way, the anti-liberal and allegedly anti-censorship complaint against cancel culture overlooks censorship as cultural heritage in order to complain about liberals and feminists, which really was apparent at the outset.」
Or, perhaps, #286↑:
「Consider that the conservative complaint against cancel culture, including Rauch's, descends from and reiterates the value of a censorship (cancel) culture that involved phone trees, letter-writing campaigns, and organized activism to intimidate businesses with boycott threats and harangue public officials to punish someone.」
Mehta, Hemant. "Texas school district cancels 'Little Shop of Horrors' after girl is cast as Seymour". Friendly Atheist. 14 October 2026. FriendlyAtheist.com. 14 October 2026. https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-school-district-cancels-little