Newstalk’s guests all agree (irony alert) that cancel culture has killed free speech

There are many phrases in the contemporary lexicon whose mere utterance induces a sinking feeling: “latest variant”, “fresh wave”, “new normal”, to name but a few. But when it comes to provoking Pavlovian groans of despair, few terms can match “cancel culture”. A divisive concept that reliably provokes spluttering outrage or self-righteous defensiveness (though little in the way of clarity and consideration), for subject-strapped radio hosts it’s the equivalent of “break glass in case of emergency”.

So it's hard to muster much enthusiasm when Andrea Gilligan broaches the topic on Tuesday's Lunchtime Live (Newstalk, weekdays). In the light of Pope Francis's recent condemnation of cancel culture as "one-track thinking", the host discusses the matter with psychotherapist Stella O'Malley, who is alarmed that people are "repressing their thinking" for fear of saying the wrong thing. "This idea that we should repress our speech to suit other people is anti-therapeutic," O'Malley says.

It’s an original argument, at least, with O’Malley suggesting there’s “anxiety among young people” about using “forbidden” phrases. Gilligan, meanwhile, notes that if she expresses an opinion that “deviates or navigates in any way from what Twitter thinks I should have, you are open to a ferocious level of scrutiny”. These are pertinent points, as is the ever-apposite observation that women are subject to far more ferocity in such matters. Gilligan’s guest is on shakier ground, however, when she claims “self-censorship is the biggest threat to society”. (This being a family newspaper, I’ve self-censored my initial response to this assertion.)

Despite some intriguing moments, the discussion founders because – irony alert – no dissenting opinions are heard

Journalist Valerie Cox also joins the conversation, decrying the removal of nativity cribs to spare secular sensitivities, and bemoaning the toppling of statues of slaveholders as rewriting history. Eventually, Gilligan conjures up a dystopian vision of Irish life, talking about people out socialising being “terrified to say anything that might be seen as non-PC”. Cox agrees: “We’re striking fear into the hearts of people.” Well, if they weren’t scared before, they are now.

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Despite some intriguing moments, the discussion founders because – irony alert – no dissenting opinions are heard. Instead, promising ideas about the online intolerance of “impure” beliefs get lost amid broad brushstrokes.  Meanwhile, Gilligan, whose approach favours connection over interrogation, goes along with her guests’ statements. Not one of nature’s firebrands – she commendably avoids using the word “woke” as an epithet – the host sounds a nervous note as the conversation ends: “I’ve no doubt the three of us are facing an impending cancel culture here today.” One sincerely hopes not. Her devotion to free speech is to be applauded, though in this instance a wider range of voices wouldn’t hurt.

Otherwise, Gilligan hears out all sides of the story. On Wednesday, she discusses proposals for gardaí to wear body cameras with Liam Herrick of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, who is dubious about their effectiveness and worries that their “evidential value is not complete, but might be given more weight in court”. But she also speaks to Richard, a former police officer of unspecified origin (he sounds Antipodean) who recounts how his body cam footage absolved him of assault charges. It makes for an absorbing discussion, with wider legal concerns offset by vivid personal anecdote.

Far from that sinking feeling, Andrea Gilligan's on the rise

Combined with other weighty items, such as an interview with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar (“I want 2023 to be a summer of freedom in Ireland,” he says, in what one hopes is a chronological slip) and a wide-ranging discussion with former Labour leader Joan Burton on new birth cert rights for adopted people, it serves to underline Gilligan’s strengths as a broadcaster. Far from that sinking feeling, she’s on the rise.

As for cancel culture, one of its egregious effects can be gauged on Arena (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays), as presenter Sean Rocks talks to English comedian Ricky Gervais, whose incessant mockery of political correctness has been punished with a third series of his hugely popular Netflix sitcom, After Life. It's only a short promotional interview along with other members of the cast, but amid the generic anecdotes about on-set mischief, Gervais fires off a couple of zingers.

Asked by Rocks about the recent pronouncement by the Pope (him again) about people having pets instead of children robbing them of humanity, Gervais shoots back: “It’s not the most stupid thing he’s said, is it?” Meanwhile, he explains why the new run of his series is also its last. “You’ve got to get out early,” he chuckles, “I’ve got to cancel myself before other people do.” Touché. Though it’s hardly a revelatory conversation, it neatly captures the comedian’s Marmite persona, while adding much-deserved celebrity heft to Rocks’s hardworking arts show.

Elsewhere, Pat Kenny (Newstalk, weekdays) braves contentious waters on Wednesday as he asks whether Ireland should abandon its neutrality. Economist and columnist Dan O'Brien thinks that as geopolitical tensions with Russia and China increase, it's time to consider the move. Whereas during the Cold War, Ireland got away with being "free riders behind Nato", the country's increased economic importance means it is more likely to be targeted if conflicts arise. "The best way to be secure in an increasingly insecure world, would be to join countries most like us, in Nato, led by America," O'Brien says.

It’s a bold, not to say unpopular opinion, which Kenny duly questions. He wonders, among other things, why Ireland would want to draw Russia’s ire. O’Brien, whose almost cartoonishly stentorian manner is backed by a creditable array of facts, makes some telling arguments, not least the fact that Ireland is unable to defend its borders by itself. “We think neutrality is some magical protective status,” he says, while noting that our airspace is de facto protected by the RAF, a state of affairs that affronts O’Brien “as a proud Irishman”. He concedes that Nato membership is unlikely to be approved by the Irish public, who don’t necessarily see it as a benign organisation. Nonetheless, he raises uncomfortable questions about Ireland’s long-cherished stance. Meanwhile, whatever about any incorrectness, Kenny isn’t afraid to raise politically inexpedient topics.

Radio Moment of the Week

On Tuesday, Dermot and Dave (Today FM) take an irreverent approach to their Zoom interview with the cast of horror movie reboot Scream, particularly focusing on Courteney Cox. Dermot Whelan announces to the former Friends star, whose partner is Derry-born musician Johnny McDaid, that he's going to check her "Irish credentials" by asking her to identify an object he's holding. Cox laughs nervously, as she strains to recognise it. "That's so strange, that must be a paddle," she says, before mumbling something about soccer. "A soccer paddle, you're so close," Whelan chortles triumphantly. "It's called a hurley, and it's part of our very violent but ancient sport of hurling." And Cox thought she was there to talk about her movie. Camán lads, give her a break.