Willow Smith criticises cancel culture and says ‘shaming doesn’t lead to learning’

Singer appeared on Juneteenth special of ‘Red Table Talk’

Willow Smith has argued that “cancel culture” may prevent people from growing and learning from mistakes.

The 19-year-old singer appeared on Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk with her mother Jada Pinkett Smith and grandmother Adrienne Banfield Norris on Friday (19 June) in celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday marking the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

The trio were joined by civil rights activists Tamika D Mallory and Dr Angela Davis for a roundtable discussion about racism in the US, with Smith describing cancel culture as being “so prevalent right now”.

“I’m seeing people shaming others, like saying really terrible things, shaming people for what they’re choosing to say or shaming people for not really saying anything at all,” she said, as reported by People.

“But I feel like if we really want change, shaming doesn’t lead to learning.”

She was supported by Mallory, who added: “Cancel culture is a little dangerous. It definitely is because none of us are perfect. If you’re not cancelled, you ain’t really poppin’. You wanna be lit, you gotta get cancelled.

“It is a space that is a little difficult to manoeuvre because you do have to leave people room to make mistakes, to grow and to learn, but they have to show that they’re willing.”

Pinkett Smith, who is married to actor Will Smith, spoke about the upcoming episode in a video shared to her Instagram on Monday, saying: “This morning, another black man is dead at the hands of the police. Rayshard Brooks.”

She continued: “This week on the Red Table we will be filming an episode… around the issues of racism in Black America and the state of emergency that Black people are in in this nation. I would like to include you in the conversation,” adding: “I would like to send my condolences to the family of Rayshard Brooks and may he rest in peace.”