Jake Paul is living proof that cancel culture does not exist

Jake Paul is, surprisingly, still around. Not in the sense that he's still alive — we wish him a long and happy life up to 120 years old — but in the sense that people are still talking about him. He started on YouTube, became an entrepreneur and boxer, and is now seen by a certain demographic (it would be interesting to analyze the overlap with those who voted for Donald Trump and those who follow Andrew Tate) as a kind of guru. The entrepreneur born in Cleveland in 1997, despite all the shocking statements and accusations, is still riding high. Unfortunately. 

Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul

Now more than ever, since he has challenged Mike Tyson to a match in the ring, which will take place on Friday, November 15th (in the night between the 15th and 16th in Italy) in Texas, and will be streamed on Netflix. A highly anticipated match that sees the young and cocky creator of the W bodycare line taking on a boxing legend known for his notorious lack of control over his most aggressive instincts. For months now, the two have been taunting each other, pushing boundaries, and exchanging barbs on social media, in a frankly disgusting display of machismo and sexism, and in Paul's case towards Tyson, also of barely concealed racism.

Cancel culture doesn’t exist for wealthy, straight, white men

A global Netflix stream in collaboration with Paul’s company, Most Valuable Promotions, shouts loud and clear that for an adult, wealthy, and powerful man like him (and all others like him) cancel culture doesn’t really exist. It doesn’t ruin careers, it has virtually no impact on work, earnings, life, events, or business deals. This isn't exactly news, but in a world constantly yelling about the woke ideology (and similar buzzwords), we might need the reminder. The social bubble that accuses and excludes doesn’t exist in reality and doesn’t bring about change. The content of these two fighters has racked up hundreds of millions of views over time, and the hype is sky-high. It doesn’t matter if Jake Paul’s past includes allegations of fraud, discrimination, and even (unsurprisingly) sexual assault by Justine Paradise and Railey Lollie, or if Mike Tyson has faced continuous rape accusations since 1992.

Toxic masculinity and the silence of condemnation

Even more so, this match — beyond being an unstoppable money-making, marketing, and publicity machine — is a showcase of toxic masculinity, a celebration of its unchallenged triumph, of its way of surviving against all odds. Even more: it's proof that not only has it not been defeated (even if Gen Z’s standards for what it means to be attractive and sexy for a man seem to be shifting), but that it is still very — too — strong. And it is harmful to women, for what it means to their lives — for how they are treated and perceived, for how people talk about them — but also for men and boys who — especially if they are very young, easily influenced, or in a vulnerable state — become radicalized, aggressive, and violent through these examples. The solution? Ignore them, or at least don't get caught up in the hype at the idea of watching a match between extreme personalities. If the goal of the fight is to generate buzz, it's better to condemn it with silence.