Athena Kugblenu looks at the history of cancel culture, exploring how celebrity justice may have been meted out back in the day.

Were some historical figures unfairly cancelled?

Over the last few years, if a celebrity has ever said or done anything remotely controversial, then they've probably been cancelled.

Largely performed through social media, some describe it as necessary evil to help democratise the internet and reflect the expectancy of an artist’s audience, for others it’s just a chance to shut up gobby celebs!

Whatever your view, it certainly helps empower fans by diminishing celebrity cultural capital and helping keep their egos and opinions in check. It's a growing phenomenon that's left almost no one unscathed, from comedians and actors to musicians and TV hosts.

It’s also happening to the not so famous - remember the bin cat lady?

With stand up and sketch comedy, Athena explores cancel culture and the world of offence in modern times.

Athena helps to explain the phenomenon of cancel culture among celebrities, look at the history of offence, and offer up some cancel rules for guidance. Athena then puts all that cancel knowledge to the test on her own social media activity from 10 years ago.

There’s just no escape from cancel culture justice, even for Athena!

Written and performed by Athena Kugblenu.

With:

James McNicholas
Jamie-Rose Monk
William Frazer

Producer: Gus Beattie

A Gusman production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021. Show less