Kaunda Selisho

By Kaunda Selisho

Journalist


Popular DJ risks getting ‘cancelled’ by Mampintsha association

The musician may suffer the consequences of openly associating himself with an alleged abuser.


In the age of cancel culture, those who are viewed to be on the wrong side of popular discourse are often left to feel the consequences of choosing to be associated with a celebrity or brand that has proven to be problematic.

What is cancel culture?

Cancel culture is a term used to refer to the phenomenon of “cancelling” or no longer morally, financially, and/or digitally supporting people – usually celebrities – or things that many have deemed unacceptable or problematic.

The concept is believed to have originated on social media as this is where most discourse takes place these days.

Is it effective?

Because it is believed to have begun as a hashtag, cancel culture is also viewed as an ineffective means of sanctioning public figures who have been found guilty of wrong-doing.

The act of “cancelling” a celebrity, however, has proven to be somewhat effective in recent months as the public pressure under the #MuteRKelly and #MeToo movements has seen the likes of R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein lose their jobs, record deals, and a number of other streams of income due to people deciding not to consume anything related to them. That has a ripple effect that dries up the financial well which public figures often draw from in their legal battles and reputation management once proof of their wrongdoing is brought to light.

Closer to home, there was a call for this concept to be applied to musician Mandla Mampintsha Maphumulo who made headlines after a video of him beating his girlfriend surfaced nearly eight months after abuse allegations were first levelled against him.

A frequent collaborator of his, DJ Fisherman, who has recorded a song with Mampintsha a few months prior, took to social media to ask the masses what the next step for his project would be. Namely, he wanted to know whether or not to release his song with or without the feature from Mampintsha.

On Twitter, in particular, the nays had it with many calling for Mampintsha to be removed from the project.

https://twitter.com/_Thandeka__/status/1105184731124113408

Despite asking for public input, the DJ seems to be determined to go forward with releasing the feature as is and he went on to explain why he felt so strongly about it.

He may, however, also get cancelled by association.

https://twitter.com/SipokaziLilitha/status/1105392177390198784

He was met with ire from the masses who demanded he remove the song.

https://twitter.com/chiefntshingila/status/1105315749839532032

https://twitter.com/chiefntshingila/status/1105316811438997506

https://twitter.com/chiefntshingila/status/1105316357212696576

https://twitter.com/thabisobonita/status/1105333487660347392

https://twitter.com/justkholii__/status/1105406795617628161

https://twitter.com/JackiePhamotse/status/1105346150188634112

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