The phenomenon of 'cancel culture' escalated to unprecedented heights in 2025, evolving from a tool for calling out individuals to a mechanism for dismantling entire ideologies, social movements, and government initiatives. This dramatic shift was largely catalysed by Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, which emboldened a new wave of public shaming and silencing across the political spectrum.
High-Profile Figures in the Crosshairs
The most prominent casualty of the year was Prince Andrew, the 65-year-old brother of King Charles III. His public standing, already severely damaged by his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, faced a final, irrevocable blow. The posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April aged 41, contained explosive allegations that Andrew believed sex with her was his 'birthright'. This followed his 2022 settlement of her civil lawsuit without admission of guilt.
Buckingham Palace acted decisively, stripping him of his royal titles and military affiliations, leaving him known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, were subsequently removed from their Royal Lodge home. The palace stated the censures were necessary despite his denials and expressed sympathy for abuse victims.
The Personal Cost of Viral Moments
Ordinary citizens were not immune. Kristin Cabot, a 53-year-old HR executive from New Hampshire, experienced devastating fallout after a 'kiss cam' moment with her married boss at a Coldplay concert went viral in July. The video led to her resignation, relentless online harassment labelling her a 'homewrecker', and even death threats. Cabot noted she received far harsher criticism than her male boss, stating, 'I think we are holding ourselves back tremendously by cutting each other down.'
Political Assassination Sparks a Wave of Retribution
The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September triggered a fierce cycle of cancellations. Political analyst Matthew Dowd saw his MSNBC contract terminated hours after describing Kirk as 'very divisive' on air, with the network calling his remarks 'inappropriate'.
Far-right figures, including Trump advisor Laura Loomer, led campaigns to expose critics of Kirk. An anonymous website, 'Charlie's Murderers', listed alleged endorsers of the killing, leading to death threats. Several individuals lost their jobs for comments seen as unsympathetic, including a university dean and a Carolina Panthers PR coordinator.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily suspended by ABC for remarks about attempts to 'politically exploit' Kirk's death. He returned after public debate, but the incident highlighted the tense climate.
Institutions and Ideologies Under Fire
The Trump administration's influence extended the cancel culture battle into media and government. CBS announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's The Late Show, with its final episode slated for May 2026. While CBS cited financial reasons, widespread belief held it was due to Colbert's sustained criticism of Trump, turning him into a free-speech martyr.
Further controversy hit CBS when its new news chief, Bari Weiss, pulled a pre-publicised 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelan migrants deported to a Salvadoran prison under Trump-era policies. Reporter Sharyn Alfonsi and others decried the move as political censorship, arguing it gave officials a 'kill switch' over critical reporting.
On a policy level, the administration moved to 'cancel' vast swathes of government. It rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across the federal government and corporations, abolished longstanding regulations, and slashed funding for healthcare, scientific research, and global aid programmes like USAID. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush called the dismantling of USAID a 'travesty'.
A Global Conflict Fuels Cancellations
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war continued to trigger a wave of firings and rescinded job offers related to statements—or silence—on the conflict. Experts noted people were canceled from both sides, for being seen as too pro-Palestinian or too pro-Israeli. University presidents resigned under pressure, student groups were suspended, and performers faced boycotts.
As Harvard psychology professor Steven Pinker, author of a new book on the subject, explains, social norms are upheld by 'common knowledge'. When a norm is publicly flouted, people feel compelled to punish the violator publicly. However, voices like Loretta Ross, a professor at Smith College, warn against the acceleration of 'outrage culture', arguing that dismissing people for disagreeing or 'waking up later' is ultimately destructive.
