Should we forgive celebrities like Camila Cabello for making ‘racist’ online posts in their youth?

Camila Cabello has apologised after “racist” remarks she reportedly posted on Tumblr resurfaced online.

The now-deleted Tumblr posts were shared in a Twitter thread, prompting the former Fifth Harmony band member to respond publicly with what appears to be a direct re​ply. The singer tweeted a lengthy apology under the caption “I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart.”

She wrote:

When I was younger, I used language that I’m deeply ashamed of and will regret forever.

I was uneducated and ignorant and once I became aware of the history and the weight and the true meaning behind this horrible language, I was deeply embarrassed I ever used it.

The blog, which featured re-blogged photos of racial stereotypes in addition to various memes featuring the n-word, has undoubtedly offended many people. Even Cabello’s fans are shocked and disappointed, with many calling for her to be dropped from various sponsorship deals.

But a debate has now started about how we treat celebrities who have grown up online.

After all, Cabello was just fifteen when she made these comments. She’s the beginning of a new wave of celebrities who grew up online and have a digital footprint from their teenage years of things they’d rather forget. For example, footage also emerged of a teenage Justin Bieber using the n-word.

Cabello addressed her age in her response, writing:

I'm 22 now, I'm an adult and I've grown and learned and am conscious and aware of the history and the pain it carries in a way I wasn't before. Those mistakes don't represent the person I am or a person I've ever been.

Lots of people online are saying that it’s not right to drop someone from jobs or endorsement deals for something they did age fifteen.

But others think that Cabello’s remarks make her unsuitable to be in the public eye, even if they’re historic.

What do you think?

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