Ask Lemmy

Usually not.
Do I cherry pick? Depends on the severity.

If supporting the art, supports the artist, who actively supports a bad cause, I do not. JKR and anything that furthers the anti-trans movement can go screw. If someone co-opts something, then it's trickier, but I expect the original artist to help when they can and support them directly, like Marvel's Punisher.

It's tough when something that's been a huge part of your life turns out to be made by an unlikeable person. Two big ones for me off the top of my head are Megadeth and Orson Scott Card. Music and novels that were big parts of my formative years. While I still have fond memories of their works in my life, I don't go back and revisit them much from what I've learned about the people since then.

In an age where anyone can get their content out there, there are too many people doing equal quality creations without the baggage, so I'd rather just move on to new creators I can spread the word about than trying to defend someone who's already seen success and tarnished it for themselves. It's not enjoyable to have to defend someone questionable to anyone else, or to myself.

I do my best to avoid art from controversal figures, but more importantly I avoid financially supporting them. Sometimes that's difficult, because they have been involved in so many things and that involvement isn't always obvious, but I try.

One of the recent, easier examples is J.K. Rowling, whose stance as a self-proclaimed "TERF" has caused me to avoid her Harry Potter franchise except for the books and movies I already own (although I have still not had interest in those lately as a consequence of her stance). This is an easy case to avoid because it's (usually) obvious what she benefits from and what she doesn't, there is no guesswork or Googling. If it says "Harry Potter" in the title it is probably financially benefitting her

Officially, yes, I separate them. In truth, there are some artists whose I'm less likely to enjoy once they did that thing they did.

Like, I don't really want to see Kevin Spacey movies anymore. But I'll still watch everything Mel Gibson does. I could make arguments for why that is (Gibson was drunk, moment of weakness, whatever), but it's really just about how I feel. I could make similar arguments for the ones I don't feel like watching anymore.

I do think we're all kind of dirt-meat struggling through a confusing nightmare, and art is one way we rise above it. The best art is often made by broken people. Broken people don't act right.

I have a hot take on this one. I actively try not to. I disagree with the concept itself.
When it comes to buying their art, why would I do that if I don't like the artist, why would I support them that way?
When it comes to seeing their art as their ideas/ideology/etc, if I don't like them I probably don't exactly because I disagree with their ideas, so again it doesn't make sense to me.

It depends… I wouldn’t say I cherry-pick, but if the art has a message that parallels the issues I have with the artist, it’s hard not to “separate” them. Like Kanye’s latest album… I can listen to College Dropout and Life of Pablo no problem, they don’t have any Nazi messaging. But his latest album is filled with very weird lyrics that just make me uncomfortable.

Another example would be someone like Dali, who was an avowed fascist. But his paintings don’t really have anything to do with that. And I quite enjoy them still.

Yes.

I quite enjoy the Tom Clancy books, and some of the film adaptations, but know he is right wing and it comes through in the books.

Similar to J K Rowling. Terrible person in general but the books were enjoyable when growing up.

Yes and no. The Art can be beautiful and the artist very gifted, i can recognize that part. It can also be related to their story, mood, society, environnement or not.

However, if they are shit toward human being, i boycott them just as any brand.

Tom Cruise is an incredibly talented actor. He also is the face of a horrific cult that has probably murdered people

Shelly Miscavige hasn't been seen in public for almost two decades

Harvey Weinstein made a lot of really great films happen that we would've probably never seen without him, while he also made a lot of nightmares come true for some women. I really hope he isn't making any money these days off of those movies.