Strategies of anti-crisis communications in the conditions of the “cancel culture”: comparative analysis of practices in the Hollywood and Russian film industry

Abstract

In the modern digital age, when any information spreads very quickly, reputation and image become fragile and valuable assets, especially for the mass industry such as cinema. Cinema is a high-budget, emotionally involved industry and depends on image, especially in the face of “cancel”. The article provides a comparative analysis of anti-crisis communication strategies in the context of the phenomenon of “cancel culture” in the Hollywood and Russian film industries. The author reveals the concept and features of the phenomenon as a modern socio-­media phenomenon, emphasizing its global and repeated nature. Based on specific cases, the study reveals fundamental differences between the Western and Russian models of crises and their management mechanisms. The study found that crisis PR in Hollywood is focused on public dialogue and requires quick, comprehensive, and honest responses. In contrast, Russia’s “corporate cancel” model emphasizes the role of government and corporate structures rather than mass movements, which affects crisis communication strategies that prioritize loyalty and adaptation to solutions. The authors conclude that the effectiveness of an anti-crisis strategy depends on understanding the specifics of the sociocultural and media context. The Internet and social networks serve as a platform for new media, which are less subject to censorship by editors and authors, but which instantly scale the phenomenon of canceling.