How Past Posts Become Present Weapons

In the most recent episode of “When Tweets Come Back to Haunt You,” Tyler, the Creator is the main character. Many of his old tweets have resurfaced, drawing claims of anti-Blackness, homophobia, sexism, and a host of other outrageous posts.

For those familiar with the history of the former Odd Future leader, this is probably a nothingburger, as his early career was largely built on what we know today as ragebait and controversy. However, the internet’s virtue squad has once again weaponized itself to cancel an artist for perceived “isms” and “phobias.” While Tyler might be the latest subject of this phenomenon, he is definitely not the first. We’ve seen similar campaigns against artists like Metro Boomin, Drake, Cardi B, Kevin Hart, and a slew of other artists and celebrities. With many of today’s celebrities having grown up through the rise of social media, the question presents itself: Is it fair to judge the prior social media activity of artists before the fame (and sometimes before adulthood), or is it fair game?

However, this modern perspective is formed in hindsight. Many of us who were present during the Wild West days of social media—also known as the “Blog Era”—know that at that time, things like microaggressions, “cancel culture,” and virtue signaling were not a thought, and almost anything went. This is precisely why many cases of internet mob action usually result from postings made during this time, particularly for those who chose not to scrub their social media once achieving fame, or even used the same accounts. Even in these cases, though, internet sleuths can still dig up anything that can be perceived as ammunition once a cancellation campaign has been initiated.

As it pertains to music, many of the rising young artists do not even remember a time when social media was not a major part of the world and a major player in music distribution and an artist’s success. Artists like Soulja Boy, who were pioneers in leveraging social media to rap stardom, have given rise to the subsequent generation. This new wave has taken the next step in using platforms like YouTube to bypass the gatekeeping that used to be enforced by entities like A&Rs (for better or worse). This highlights not only the power of social media but also its necessity in building a successful musical career.

Furthermore, fans now have unprecedented access to their favorite artists, with some artists even staying afloat via their cult-like internet followings. However, while some artists have chosen to use those followings to promote their careers, we’ve even seen cases where artists try to weaponize this following. The recent beefs between the camps of Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj and, to a greater extent, Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, showcase the power of social media followings.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” Indeed, in this current age where artists wield so much social power, is it fair to criticize them for their previous social media activity? As we know, people grow and mature, and in this unprecedented age, social media serves as a constant, public diary of our thoughts. Is the public right to judge the prior self, or should artists hold responsibility for their past postings and owe it to their fans to account for their hurtful prior comments? Is this a witch hunt, or is it justified? Thank you for reading, and let us know your thoughts.