Thuso Mbedu, once a darling in the eyes of many, has fallen victim to the furore of social media cancel cuture.
Thuso Mbedu faces cancel culture for tweeting Mac G
The budding actress whose rise to fame was propelled, in some part, by Academy Award winner Viola Davis, has found herself at odds with an online community and all of this is over a tweet she posted.
The since-deleted tweet was a dab at renowned podder Mac G. In it, Mbedu thanked the podcaster for including her in a segment on the most recent episode of Podcast and Chill with Mac G.
Thuso Mbedu is classified a homophobe for thanking MacG shout-out..
— SITHALE✍ (@SithaleKgaogelo) May 6, 2021
It's the entitlement in people's success for me. pic.twitter.com/xqmP5jU2QF
Except, she may have not realised that on social media, Mac G is cancelled for his refusal to accept accountability for his transphobic comments.
Sponsors and guests of the show have come and gone as a result of the pressures applied by cancel culture, on anyone associated with a public figure that has used his platform, on numerous occasions, to drive derogatory narratives about the LGBTQA+ community.
Mbedu was the latest celebrity to feel the wrath of Mac G’s naysayers. The 29-year-old quickly deleted the tweet and issued a response to the backlash:
I deleted a previous post as it seems to have offended some. I didn’t know why so I went to someone that I trust & who I knew could give me better insight. Others chose to educate me and it’s out of care and respect for them that I deleted my post.
— тнU§σ Mвє∂u (@ThusoMbedu) May 6, 2021
Was the furore warranted? This subjective question has divided opinion on social media. Here are some of the reactions we’ve picked out:
Eyy Thuso didn't do anything wrong, you guys are being weird.
— . (@_IpelengL) May 6, 2021
That MacGee thing trended for over a week, the straights wanted Mel fired – they were angry and it was everywhere. Thuso saw, it can't be that she doesn't know.
— Mpume (@MprueDie) May 6, 2021
You’d swear Thuso came on here and said “I agree with everything MacG has ever said on his podcast” but uhmmm nope! She LITERALLY just thanked the guy for giving her a shout-out and that’s the crime…so WILD! Because what about those who still go on and do interviews with him?
— Throw kindness around (@like_confettii) May 6, 2021
You obviously had to read this out of today’s context to justify your immediate response to Thuso’s tweet. You immediately assumed Thuso was aware of McG’s previous transgressions because you wanted to solidify your immediate response. This is about that. https://t.co/AvwKzgc4Ni
— Phume (@phume22) May 6, 2021