How Teens Feel About Controversial Podcaster Theo Von — & What That Says About the Future of Cancel Culture

Gen Z, the generation that has long been labeled as overly sensitive and remained infamous for cancel culture, seems to be swinging backwards and taking the opposite stance. One of the main ways that teens are seeing this shift is through humor — specifically, comedians who are unafraid to walk the line between funny and controversial. During a recent focus group discussion with members of the SheKnows Teen Council, one name came up repeatedly as a symbol of this shift: Theo Von.

A comedian known for his unfiltered stories and willingness to wade into controversy, Von may not seem like an obvious role model. And to be clear, most teens don’t see him that way either. But they do view him as something refreshing, someone who isn’t afraid to say the wrong thing in a world where so many are scared to say anything at all.

Do they view him as an influencer? Well, yes and no.

“He doesn’t influence me,” said Olivia, 17, “but he’s influencing society as a whole, just because the stuff he says is actually insane and he’s hilarious. It’s so popular. I think even if people aren’t agreeing with him, they’re still consuming it — like, I have probably lost brain cells listening to him, and I don’t agree, but it’s funny.”

“I don’t know if he’s influencing anybody,” said 16-year-old Connor, reflecting a common sentiment that Von’s appeal lies more in his delivery than his beliefs. “He just says a bunch of outrageous things and tells crazy stories. I feel like he’s not really changing people’s opinions.”

But Calder, 17, had a differing opinion. “[Von] can change people’s opinions if he wants, like if he really felt strong about something,” he countered. “And he says sensible things on his show, every once in a while. He’s actually kind of a sensible guy, when you dive deep into it. He definitely has influence over the people who watch his show.”

Clive, 16, echoed that sentiment, pointing to Von’s ability to present complex topics in a digestible way. “He can put concepts that are foreign to people in a very understandable way, you know? Like, if people are not that educated or something like that, he can say it in a funny way that’s easy to consume — but then there’s actual meaning to it, because he’s speaking to a lot of smart people on his show.”

Gary, 16, simply thinks Theo Von is hilarious. “Whatever he says, I die laughing whenever he comes across my feed,” he said. “And I feel like he’s encouraging people to actually say what they want to say and not censor themselves.”

That distinction matters. For many teens, Von isn’t shifting opinions or preaching any particular ideology … he’s just funny. His style may be chaotic and outrageous, but it’s also accessible. And though some of what he says may be problematic, his fearlessness is making Gen Z reevaluate cancel culture. 

“He’s less scared of cancel culture,” said Greta, 17. But when asked if they thought cancel culture was “over,” the teens were unanimous: not by a long shot. ​​“We pick and choose too much,” Olivia said, pointing out the inconsistency in how people are held accountable. Sophia, 16, agreed: “If these comedians can say stuff like this, and then other people get canceled for smaller stuff … There are just weird lines everywhere.”

That inconsistency feels especially stark for comedians like Theo Von, and the rules more flexible. “Comedy is so free,” said Olivia. “People think that what a comedian says is funny, and if an influencer were on live and said the same joke, it wouldn’t be received the same.”

She also pointed to the context comedians like Von often provide by including people of different backgrounds in the joke-telling process. “He’ll have an Asian person on the show or a Black person on the show, and he makes jokes about their race, and these people are laughing, so it doesn’t matter as much, you know? I mean, it’s like they’re enabling it a little bit while they’re on his show. So, it doesn’t feel like a serious environment. When you’re not interacting with someone … it just feels like you’re doing it to be offensive. Whereas these people feel like his friends, almost.” 

One thing was made clear during our Teen Council focus group: their own beliefs aside, Theo Von has a large impact on the Gen Z community, and they all recognize his cultural pull. Because he is so charismatic and funny, Gen Z is willing to overlook the controversial nature of his character. While some might be taken aback by his outward approach, it’s clear that Gen Z is getting tired of the overly-cautious framework of cancel culture and is embracing comedy without caution. As Olivia put it: “Cancel culture is kind of just dumb now.” 

Interested in joining our Teen Council or learning more? Email us at teencouncil@shemedia.com.