Reputation at risk: The impact of cancel culture on corporate communication

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34630/tth.v1i5.6217

Keywords:

Cancel Culture, Corporate communication, Crisis management, Reputation, Social Responsibility, Freedom of Expression

Abstract

This article investigates the impact of cancel culture on corporate communication, focusing on the challenges it poses to organizations and the strategies necessary to mitigate reputational damage. In a digital context where social media mobilization can turn a minor mistake into a full-blown crisis, the study critically analyzes both the immediate and long-term effects on brands. The importance of constant monitoring and a proactive response when it comes to crisis prevention is demonstrated in practical cases, such as the Balenciaga case. This article also proposes an in-depth reflection on the ethical responsibility of organizations, emphasizing the need to balance ethical responsibility and freedom of expression, as well as the relevance of innovating in communication management to strengthen stakeholder trust.

References

Braz, R. (2024). Cancel Culture vs Liberdade de Expressão. https://parc.ipp.pt/index.php/trendshub/article/view/5715

Ferreira, A. B. C. (2023). Estudos sobre gestão de crises e reputação:

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/24631

Issawi, D., & Cohen, D. (2024). Sobre a campanha controversa da Balenciaga:

https://www.thecut.com/article/what-to-know-about-the-balenciaga-ad-scandal.html

Manso, A.M. (2023). Estudo da eficácia das estratégias de resposta das organizações no contexto de cancelamento nas redes sociais (Cancel Culture). https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/87352/1/Alexandra%20Martin%20Manso.pdf

Novelli, P. (2021). Cancel Culture Report: https://pt.scribd.com/document/559864116/Cancel-Culture-Report

Romano, A. (2020). Why We Can’t Stop Fighting about Cancel Culture. https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/30/20879720/what-is-cancel-culture-explained-history-debate

Vogels, E. A., et al. (2021). Americans and Cancel Culture – Pesquisa do Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/

Published

2025-06:-09

How to Cite

Passos, R. (2025). Reputation at risk: The impact of cancel culture on corporate communication. The Trends Hub, 1(5). https://doi.org/10.34630/tth.v1i5.6217