Cancel culture has become a buzzword of the last decade. Celebrities, influencers and everyday people wonder if one misstep could lead to a public relations nightmare.
A United Kingdom-based PR firm now offers a solution: cancel culture insurance.
Cancel culture refers to the mass withdrawal of support for someone, often through public criticism or social backlash. This growing trend has left many high-profile individuals worried about protecting their reputations.
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Borkowski, a UK-based PR firm, is backing a policy called “Preempt,” according to the Financial Times. The firm partnered with an underwriting agency to design the coverage, which aims to fill gaps in traditional corporate policies. The policy offers personalized support to individuals facing public backlash.
How does it work?
The Preempt policy provides a 24/7 hotline and 60 days of crisis communication services. These tools allow clients to respond quickly to negative media coverage and mitigate potential damage to their reputation.
Currently, the policy focuses on celebrities, executives, athletes and other high-net-worth individuals.
Kevin Hart’s experience in 2018 provides a clear example of how cancel culture impacts reputations.
After the Academy announced Hart as the host of the Oscars, critics resurfaced old tweets and jokes that many labeled homophobic. The backlash grew so intense that Hart had to step down from the role. His experience sparked a broader conversation about accountability and whether people should face “cancellation” for past behavior.
Hart’s PR team handled the situation, but Borkowski’s crisis management services could have offered additional support. The policy would have helped him manage the media fallout and control the narrative more effectively.
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Limitations of the policy
Borkowski clarified that the policy does not cover illegal acts. Instead, it focuses on individuals concerned about their words or actions being misinterpreted or taken out of context.
Cancel culture insurance offers high-profile individuals a safety net as they navigate the challenges of public scrutiny.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
‘Cancel Culture’… can be defined as the act of a mass withdrawal of support for someone – often through public criticism or social backlash, as a way of expressing disapproval.
It’s become a buzzword of the last decade – leaving celebrities, influencers, and even everyday people wondering if one misstep could lead to a PR nightmare. But now – there may be a safety net with cancel culture insurance.
A United Kingdom-based PR firm – Borkowski – along with an underwriting agency, is behind this policy known as “Preempt.” They told the Financial Times – this policy is designed to fill the gaps in traditional corporate coverage by providing personalized support to individuals facing potential backlash.
The policy includes a 24-7 hotline and sixty days of communication services to respond to negative media coverage. It currently targets celebrities, executives, athletes, and other high-net-worth individuals.
One notable example of modern cancel culture was in 2018 against comedian Kevin Hart. After being announced as the host of the Oscars, old tweets and jokes resurfaced that were broadly considered homophobic by critics. The intense criticism led Hart to step down from hosting the event, sparking a larger debate about accountability and whether or not people should be “canceled” for their behavior.
Although Hart has his own PR team, a situation like this could have benefitted from crisis management services designed to help mitigate reputational damage caused by the media buzz.
Borkowski does warn this policy is not designed for people who have committed illegal acts. Instead, it’s designed for those concerned about their actions or words being taken out of context.
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