In a modern society where cancel culture reigns supreme, public figures face intense scrutiny often leaving many of them in career-ending backlash, damaged reputations, unemployment and lost opportunities.
Station Manager for the Central University of Technology’s CUT FM is in hot water after publicly announcing that she was romantically involved with a 17-year-old girl while she was 35 years old.
Laila Nyane (40) made this confession during a controversial interview on the Spreading Humours Podcast in March 2025.
The interview sparked widespread outrage among South Africans, who are now calling for her cancellation and being stripped of all her duties in the entertainment industry.
The public is calling for Nyane to be arrested on charges of sexual harassment and pedophilia.
While cancel culture aims to hold individuals accountable for their actions, it often raises questions about proportionality, context, and redemption.
Nyane is currently placed on precautionary suspension by CUT while the matter is being investigated.
According to a research report from the University of Witwatersrand, written by John Dunlop, the cancel culture has been utilised as a descriptive symbol for a pronounced sense of protest against the actions of specific individuals, usually influential or famous.
Dunlop says today’s generation mostly uses social media platforms to cancel individuals for behaviour deemed as inappropriate, and unacceptable.
In his research, Dunlop refers to American music superstar Robert Kelly and British author and creator of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, as prime examples of cancel culture.
ANGELA LINDA Photo:Facebook
Different organisations including the CUT Student Representative Council, United Democratic Movement, and hundreds of other citizens across the Free State are accusing Nyane of being a pedophile, kidnapper, child molester, and committing all sorts of heinous crimes.
In an interview with Journal News, Nyane says the main aim of doing the podcast was to speak about her initiative in helping young people to succeed in their careers, especially in the entertainment industry.
“ When I say I groom young people, I mean grooming them professionally and helping them to succeed in their careers as broadcasters and media personalities. I mentor them to be the best version of themselves professionally,” she said.
“People are quoting me out of context,” she emphasised.
SIBONGILE KAJANE Photo:Facebook
She also tells Journal News that the relationships that she had with famous influencers, Angela Linda and Sibongile Kajane, were consensual and have always been from the start.
