Real Business Connections

Why Ellen Was CANCELLED But Kanye Isn’t — The Truth About Likability w/ Erica Mallett From Theory Of One (LST #129)

Sep 1, 2025
Erica Mallett, a brand strategist and creator of the Theory of One YouTube channel, explores the intriguing contrast between celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Kanye West. She discusses how brand contradictions affect public perception, emphasizing that imperfections can enhance likability. Erica introduces her PDF framework for personal branding and shares experiences from her 'Cringe Mountain', highlighting the growth that comes from embracing mistakes. Discover the psychology of why some figures remain beloved while others face cancellation!
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Congruent Persona Shields Controversy

  • Kanye stays culturally relevant because his public persona matches his private self, so audiences 'knew what they were signing up for.'
  • That alignment creates tolerance for shocking behavior that would cancel someone with a contradictory brand.
INSIGHT

Brand Incongruence Invites Backlash

  • Ellen was canceled because her public brand of 'be kind' clashed with reports of mean backstage behavior.
  • A gap between curated image and reality makes audiences unforgiving when the truth appears.
ADVICE

Make Imperfections Part Of The Brand

  • Build your imperfections into your brand instead of hiding them behind perfection.
  • Use known flaws strategically so audiences accept them rather than feel deceived later.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app