Should a comedian be cancelled over a joke?
A comedian makes a joke seen as racist. A venue cancels his show.
- Normal: words have consequences
- The venue's decision, but beware of escalation
- It's censorship, free speech must come first
What's at stake: The law already restricts racist speech; the debate is about what remains legal but shocking, and about the social pressure involved.
The left's argument
Free speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences. A venue chooses its programme.
The centre's argument
The venue is free to choose, but beware of a wave of cancellations under pressure.
The right's argument
Cancelling a show over a joke is a form of censorship through pressure.
And you, where do you stand?
Answer 30 situations like this one and find out where you stand, topic by topic.