Welcome to Friday Debate, a feature on cup of tea with that book, please, where every Friday a question will be posted that tantalize the brain and expands our horizons. For this week’s question:

Today’s Friday Debate is in connection with last week’s debate (thanks for those who voted in the polls!). When a public figure does something we don’t like or does not match our personal beliefs, we, as a society are expected to stop supporting that product or the person altogether. We’ve seen it with popular brands like Goya and Nike. There’s also the Lady Antebellum/Lady A controversy and of course, the recent events with J.K. Rowling. Some fans are considering not buy any Harry Potter merchandise and just recently reported, sales of the Harry Potter books have started to lag in June.

This is another issue where my feelings are mixed. I like the Harry Potter books but I was never a big fan to the point I would buy merchandise related to the fandom. However, my feelings change with Lady Antebellum. When I heard they were going to sue the artist Lady A so they can use that name instead of their previous one, I was shocked and little disturbed that they would do this to not only a fellow music artist but to a black music artist. I love Lady Antebellum’s music. Anytime I would listen to their music, it would get me out of downtimes. After the news broke out, I had a hard time listening to their music with the same passion. My mind kept coming back to the controversy and I felt guilty that I chose to continue listening to them, even with their transgressions. But the band is human. Like so many artists and public figures, they make mistakes. Isn’t it possible to look to their art and their hard work and remember that?

So for this week’s Friday Debate, I am asking this question:

Please post any comments you have in the section below.

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