Rowan Atkinson calls cancel culture ‘digital equivalent of medieval mob roaming streets’
“It’s important that we’re exposed to a wide spectrum of opinion" says Mr. Bean star.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Universal Pictures
Mr. Bean’s Rowan Atkinson has weighed in on the debate around cancel culture, likening the trend to “the digital equivalent of the medieval mob roaming the streets”.
The comedy icon addressed the issue in a new interview with the Radio Times.
As well as Mr. Bean, the star is known for his work on Blackadder and as the voice of Zazu in the original Lion King movie.
“It becomes a case of either you’re with us or against us”
The 60-year-old told the TV magazine (as reported by The Telegraph): “It’s important that we’re exposed to a wide spectrum of opinion.
“But what we have now is the digital equivalent of the medieval mob roaming the streets looking for someone to burn.”
The Johnny English actor continued: “The problem we have online is that an algorithm decides what we want to see, which ends up creating a simplistic, binary view of society.
“It becomes a case of either you’re with us or against us. And if you’re against us, you deserve to be ‘cancelled’.”
He adds that it’s “scary for anyone who’s a victim of that mob”.
“Dangerous and toxic”
Atkinson is not the only public figure calling out cancel culture of late. In her Attitude cover interview last year, Physical singer Dua Lipa also discussed cancel culture, calling it “dangerous and toxic.”
“There should be a communal understanding that people make mistakes, and we should learn from each other’s mistakes and we should try to teach each other,” Dua said.
“I think there is so much judgement and meanness… cancel culture is so dangerous and toxic.”
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