What happens when a celebrity you love says something you strongly disagree with?

In this episode of Psychology In The Media, we break down a fascinating study on cancel culture, parasocial relationships, and emotional reactions to celebrity controversy. Participants were asked to imagine their favorite celebrity making a political statement—and then decide how to respond.

We explore why people feel personally affected by celebrities, what drives cancel culture behavior, and whether expressing outrage online actually helps—or just feels like it does in the moment.

This episode dives into the psychology behind why ‘canceling’ someone can feel so powerful… and what it might be doing to us long-term.

Full article: Tukachinsky Forster, R., & Spitz, D. H. (2026). I love you, but I have got to cancel you: Psychological consequences of participation in cancel culture. Psychology of Popular Media, 15(2), 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000598

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