LIFESTYLE
We Them
HOW TO IDENTIFY AND CALL
By Meghan Savaglia, L Graphic by Ka
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n the age of influencer glorification, you can fall to rock bottom as quickly as you rise to the top. The throes of “cancel culture” may seem to reach every corner of the internet, but harmful creators who profit off the insecurities of the general population still rule the roost on sites like Instagram and TikTok. When Danielle Bernstein, known as “WhoWoreWhat” in the blogosphere, debuted on TikTok, multiple individuals came forward sharing that Bernstein had stolen their content. New York based lingerie line The Great Eros, Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen, swimwear brand Odia and even more small businesses over the course of the past year have accused Bernstein of blatantly stealing their pieces.1 Many tearful Instagram denials later, Danielle Bernstein has still avoided responsibility for her Mendez, Mosie. 2021. “The controversial founder of WeWoreWhat Danielle Bernstein has officially joined TikTok.” Insider. 1
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multiple allegations. So, how far do you have to go in order to be truly pushed off the Internet?
has desensitized itself to her shameless controversy, rendering Trisha “uncancellable.” 2, 3
To Be Cancelled
It’s hard not to make a comparison to politicians in America, who desensitize the public through the 24-hour news cycle. Scandals are forgotten within days, with politicians only truly losing their jobs or popularity when they commit truly heinous offenses. But smaller scale comments and actions are lost in the noise of the news cycle. Our standards are unbelievably low for these figures.
Digging up the dirt on social media personalities can cause an internet shitstorm, but Berstein’s controversy is a friendly reminder that we: the likers, repost-ers and refreshers, are the ones who give the power and influence to media personas like her. Unfollowing, and better yet, ignoring ignorant & insensitive influencers like her is one step towards dethroning the hold that people like these have on the digital world. Trisha Paytas, a longtime Youtuber and the source of meme content on every social media imaginable, has long profited off the balance between being saying openly anti-semitic, misogynistic and racist remarks while maintaining a sense of “ironic” humour within her comments. Somehow, after years of questionable content, her internet presence & popularity has remained steadfast. Her audience
Privilege and Power Somehow, despite years of commentary on the unattainable beauty standards and Dodgson, Lindsay. 2019. “YouTuber Trisha Paytas has responded after receiving criticism for coming out as transgender because she’s attracted to gay men.” Insider. 3 Dodgson, Lindsay. 2020. “The life and controversies of YouTuber Trisha Paytas, from claiming she has multiple personalities to identifying as ‘a chicken nugget.’” Insider. 2