The sad reality is that it happens everywhere

Cancel culture doesn’t only happen on the internet. It can show up in real life when people are shut out, dismissed, or spoken about behind closed doors for being different. Sometimes it’s framed as holding others accountable, but it can just as easily slide into exclusion. 

Sometimes, it’s the sting of being excluded by people who once stood beside you-now uncomfortable with your clarity, confidence, or conviction. When you name harm or hold others accountable, it can provoke defensiveness. Rather than reflect, some may label you as “too sensitive” or “too much,” turning your strength into a reason for dismissal. What’s framed as accountability from your end can be experienced as threat from theirs-and that’s when the quiet cancellations begin: the distancing, the gossip, the doors that quietly close.

The impact can be isolating, making you feel unsafe to show up as yourself. Building coping techniques for these moments means learning how to protect your self-worth, find spaces where you’re valued, and resist the pressure to conform.