It is sometimes difficult to know when the so-called cancellation of a celebrity comes down to a legitimate scandal – a case of racism, for example, or violence – or a flight of fancy – like when Jodie Comer was ‘cancelled’ for dating a Republican. If you’re not clued up on all the facts, you might get caught up in the drama and decide that someone no longer deserves your attention, simply because a hashtag tells you so. But in these murky times, where does this week’s drama involving Dua Lipa lie?
What did Dua Lipa post on Twitter?
This week, the Physical and Don’t Start Now pop star posted a map of Albania, Kosovo and surrounding areas of nearby Balkan countries. The image was emblazoned with the word ‘autochtonous’. As stated in her tweet, the word refers to indigenous inhabitants of a place, rather than those whose ancestors came from elsewhere.
Why was that controversial?
The tweet caused a backlash online. The hashtag #CancelDuaLipa appeared, and Dua was called a ‘fascist’ by some social media users. These accusations were linked to the origins of the image, and its apparent links with Albanian nationalism. According to The BBC, the map and its sentiment ‘hard-line nationalist dreams of creating a Greater Albania that would incorporate all ethnic Albania.’
How did Dua respond?
Dua, who was born in London but is of Kosovar Albanian heritage via her parents, followed the post with a second statement, where she clarified that the tweet 'never meant to incite any hatred.’ ‘We all deserve to be proud of our ethnicity and where we are from,’ she added. ‘I simply want my country to be represented on a map and to be able to speak with pride and joy about my Albanian roots.’
Why did she post the image this week?
The image was posted after a petition called for Apple Maps to reflect Kosovo’s status as an independent nation, which is acknowledged by most European countries and the US, but not by countries including Russia or Serbia. It declared independence from Serbia back in 2008, but is not portrayed as such on the specific map systems. The petition – hosted on Change.org - has been signed by more than 140,000 people, with a target of 150,000 in its sights.
READ MORE: What Is Cancel Culture? And Who Has Been Cancelled Now?