Cancel culture, weaponising antisemitism and more
JVL Introduction
We hear a lot from the right wing press and think tanks about “cancel culture” when, as they see it, the left-wing “woke brigade” are objecting to a speaker or performer. However when left wing people are cancelled we seem to hear nothing; most especially when it is people who express their solidarity with Palestine and dare to suggest that antisemitism has been weaponised.
Here Michael Rosen, much revered author, especially of children’s literature, poet and teacher outlines some of his own experience of being cancelled. In his facebook post reproduced in full below are 9 such examples – and these are just the ones he knows about. JVL has experience of booked rooms “no longer being available” even when we managed to book a room in the first place.
Rosen originally wrote a blog about this on 9th August, which he updated more than once. It is an important read, mainly about the ongoing “work” of Labour Against Antisemitism (LAAS). There is much more than cancellations of performances or speaking engagements.
An example from the full blogpost: together with Miriam Margolyes and Alexei Sayle, Michael Rosen made a video about being called The Wrong Kind of Jew”, which prompted this tweet from the LAAS Director: ‘The good news is that these cunts will all soon be dead and there is no one with the same profile to take over as Jews for Antisemites’.
Why does it matter? Well this is what, to a greater or lesser degree so many people are facing by expressing solidarity for Palestine. Rosen’s experience may be specific but there are strong parallels with, eg what has been happening in universities and in the NHS. It is also not a way to combat antisemitism.
I think that it tells us that there are people who think that they can combat antisemitism by using antisemitic tropes to attack a Jew, to use Nazi-like medical tropes, allusions to his forthcoming death, comments about his family home, repeated lies, implied threats of violence, pickets and heckles at children’s events, lies about the making of ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, repeated social media distortions, attempts to get that person sacked, cancelled, or reviled in his public appearances. On two occasions – once to me and once to someone else – it was thought by some of these people that it was OK to make defamatory, lying accusations of sexually inappropriate activity.
This article was originally published by Michael Rosen's Blogpost on Thu 3 Sep 2026. Read the original here.
The story of how 3 directors of Labour Against Antisemitism - and friends - have dealt with people they object to
There’s been a lot of talk in the press recently about cancellations, threatened cancellations and walk-outs. With this in mind, I thought I’d put on record the ways in which some people have tried to cancel me or even succeeded in cancelling me.
Loading article text…
The spiteful hypocrisy and hissy hate are appalling. I guess that it is coming from uneasy supporters of the Israeli genocide of the indigenous people. I say thank you to Michael and JVL etc for calmly posting it for all to read.
I’m glad I’m not a public figure; how annoying to go through all this, what a waste of time. I’m glad Michael Rosen published this, I admire him for challenging these people for harassing him. Solidarity
Wow! These people clearly appear to be obsessed that they would go to such extremes. Should we call them ‘extremists’?
To wish death on others…they should be careful what they say…..if you wish death on your enemies dig a grave for yourselves and family too. That is a rough translation of an indigenous saying.
It seems to me LAAS appears to be a front, not to fight antisemitism but to be antisemitic towards jews with different views and trying to silence them using name calling and wishing people dead. That is not sane behaviour. There is nothing holy or good in their behaviour. It’s base humans who are choosing to be hateful towards others.
I think Michael Rosen and Co should take comfort. Quoting from a line of Notorious BIG – ‘quick to spit Biggie name on s**t, make my name taste like a** when you speak it’. The haters must like that taste very much:)
NB – Lyric lines Notorious BIG (What’s Beef?)
This is sheer base line antisemitism against Michael or any Jew speaking out by supposed Jews in LAAS. They are the real self-hating Jews. Why are they using these disgusting tactics? Only to defend Israel. Zionism needs antisemitism in order to justify itself.
It is is an ever decreasing circle in which they throttle in their own vomit they keep spewing as they have nothing better to do.
These stupid ghastly people are not doing anti semitism any faviours are they . It has become a sort of Marcarthysim . That did not end well.They are undermining anti semitism.
Truly shocking.
How come these people – part of the Labour Party – are not prosecuted for hate speech?
A brave and principled man being dragged down by amoral cowards. The UK has been taken over by empty opportunists and this, just this, is their function.