“What’s the most surprising backlash you’ve faced for expressing anti-woke sentiments? How did you handle it, and what’s one piece of advice you’d give to others in similar situations?”
Here is what 8 thought leaders had to say.
Client-Centered Therapy Transcends Political Frameworks
As a licensed therapist who works with diverse clients, I’ve faced surprising backlash when I’ve maintained that therapy should be personalized rather than following rigid “woke” frameworks. Once, after suggesting in a professional forum that we need to consider spiritual elements alongside mental health (mind, body, heart, and soul), I received harsh criticism claiming I was imposing religious values on clients.
I handled it by staying grounded in my client-centered approach. Instead of becoming defensive, I invited dialogue about how we can respect individual differences while providing effective care. This eventually led to productive conversations about personalization in therapy.
My advice: know your professional ethics and boundaries first. When facing backlash, respond with curiosity rather than defensiveness. Ask genuine questions about the other perspective, and share concrete examples of how your approach has helped diverse clients. In my practice, this approach has helped bridge ideological divides.
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that the therapeutic relationship transcends political frameworks. My LDS clients appreciate that I understand their spiritual context, but I also effectively serve clients with vastly different worldviews. Focus on the individual in front of you rather than adhering to any prescribed ideological approach.
Anne Marie White, Licensed Professional Counselor, Dream Big Counseling and Wellness
Stand Firm on Business Values Despite Relationship Costs
One of the most unexpected responses I received when voicing concerns about the woke movement was from people I respected in business. These were partners I had worked with for years, and when I openly shared my thoughts about how overly politicized some corporate policies were getting, the reaction was more intense than I expected. A few backed off, others distanced themselves, even though my message was never about attacking anyone but rather about questioning where these movements were taking us. The most surprising part was when some potential clients mentioned they were hesitant to work with me because they didn’t want to be associated with my stance.
At the time, it was tough, but I stood my ground. I kept the focus on my business values, such as quality, reliability, and putting the customer first. I noticed that those who appreciated my honesty ended up sticking around, and even new clients came on board, knowing exactly where I stood. It taught me that sometimes it’s better to be open and honest, even if it costs you a few relationships. My advice would be not to try to please everyone. Stick to your principles and understand that those who align with your values will find you. That’s the real strength in any business.
Johannes Hock, President, Artificial Grass Pros
Faith-Based Podcast Thrives After Sponsor Exodus
As the host of “We Don’t PLAY” podcast, I’ve experienced surprising backlash when discussing traditional faith-based business principles in episodes focused on entrepreneurship. My most unexpected pushback came after releasing a podcast about maintaining God-driven business values while scaling digital marketing strategies – several sponsors threatened to pull their support claiming my content wasn’t “inclusive enough” despite our listenership spanning 145 countries.
I handled it by leaning into authenticity rather than apologizing for my values. I pivoted to a direct listener support model through our email marketing strategies (which I teach through our courses), resulting in 23% higher engagement and actually increasing our podcast ranking to the top 2.5% globally on ListenNotes.com.
My advice: build your own distribution channels. When facing ideological pushback, I focused on creating our own SEO-optimized website and Pinterest strategy rather than depending solely on platforms we couldn’t control. This approach allowed us to maintain our voice while actually growing our audience through owned media assets rather than borrowed platforms.
The reality is that backlash often reveals your true audience. By focusing on serving our faith-based entrepreneurial community with actionable marketing advice rather than chasing mainstream approval, our Work & PLAY Entertainment business expanded from a one-person show to a team of 21 professionals who share our values.
Favour Obasi-ike, Project Scheduler, Work & PLAY Entertainment
Dialogue Trumps Retreat When Facing Professional Backlash
Probably the backlash that I did not expect came after I questioned the effectiveness of mandatory diversity training in a LinkedIn post. I wasn’t even making a political statement, just sharing that in our agency, we found organic team-building worked better than forced seminars. The reaction was intense. Like, people accused me of enabling discrimination, clients threatened to pull contracts, and some colleagues distanced themselves publicly.
I handled it by doubling down on dialogue, not retreating. I invited critics to a private video call where I explained my actual position, that I support diversity but believe authentic workplace culture can’t be dictated by HR checkboxes. Some still disagreed, but a few actually appreciated the nuance.
If you’re going to voice an unpopular opinion, own it fully but leave room for discussion. Don’t water down your stance to please everyone, but don’t dismiss critics as irrational either. The people worth keeping in your network will respect thoughtful disagreement more than safe silence.
Sean Clancy, SEO Specialist/Managing Director, SEO Gold Coast
Fighting LinkedIn Bans: Build Systems, Not Complaints
I have been banned over 10 times on LinkedIn.
These bans started because I shared my experience in New York City as an unvaccinated individual.
It was peak “plandemic” and I had been living in the UK. I refused to get the vaccine and had to study the rules to still travel.
I managed to get out of the UK and also get out of Canada before they locked the country down for anyone unvaccinated.
Anyways in NYC I would test the rules by going in without a mask to eat in places that didn’t allow the unvaxxed.
This one restaurant was owned by a very nice couple from somewhere in southeast Asia and they felt really bad but asked me kindly if I would eat outside in the “unvaxxed hut” and well I agreed.
They gave me free appeys and the food was amazing, although it was January and fucking cold outside.
So I took pictures and wrote a post about my experience on LinkedIn.
At the time, I had just under 100k followers and a loyal following, and well within a few minutes, my post got reported and taken down for “misinformation”.
I got a lot of hateful DMs and this was the start of a rocky relationship with that platform. I believe my account has been flagged ever since.
I built a system to fight these bans and thanks to a loyal community, a business page and some smarts I managed to fight and overturn all of my double digit bans.
So what’s my advice?
Well look, it’s no longer peak plandemic and it’s not 2020 anymore. So you wont face the same kind of backlash for being anti-woke. In fact you will get a lot more support these days.
But if you are going to post on enemy platforms like LinkedIn, you need to be prepared for bans and reach limitations.
There’s no point whining about what is unfair, you need to elevate above the system and know how to fight it.
Luke Matthews, Copywriter, AI Writing Lessons
Data Proves Inclusive Hiring Boosts Dispensary Success
I haven’t faced much “anti-woke” backlash because my entire journey has been about second chances and inclusion. As someone who went from being incarcerated for cannabis to owning a legal dispensary through New York’s CAURD program, I’ve seen how embracing diverse perspectives strengthens business.
The real surprise came from traditionalists in my community who questioned why I’d hire formerly incarcerated people. Some potential investors walked away. I responded by doubling down on our social equity mission and showcasing how our diverse team’s lived experiences translate to authentic customer connections and higher sales.
My advice: stay true to your values but frame conversations around shared goals. When critics questioned our hiring practices, I showed them our employee retention numbers and customer satisfaction scores. Data speaks louder than ideology. We’ve built one of Queens’ most respected dispensaries by focusing on results rather than rhetoric.
In business, your actions matter more than labels. At Terp Bros, we’ve succeeded not by taking political positions but by creating genuine opportunities and delivering exceptional products. Our expansion to a second location in Ozone Park proves that authenticity and inclusion are good business, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.
Jeremy Rivera, CEO, Terp Bros
Choose Conversations Carefully When Opinions Differ
Oh, that’s a tricky one! Once I spoke up against what I felt was a particularly extreme case of ‘woke’ culture in a community meeting, just sharing some concerns about free speech. The backlash was more intense than I expected. Friends and acquaintances became super distant, and some even labeled me without wanting to hear my detailed view. It felt like overnight, people presumed I was completely against progressive ideas, which isn’t true at all.
Dealing with that situation taught me a lot. Firstly, context is everything. Choose your battles and the setting carefully. If you’re going to share potentially controversial views, maybe start with smaller, one-on-one conversations where misunderstandings are less likely. And listen, really listen. Sometimes you find common ground you didn’t know was there, and it helps soften the blow if things go sideways. Always remember, it’s okay to have a different opinion, just be ready to explain it calmly and respectfully. That approach usually keeps the doors open for productive conversation.
Alex Cornici, Marketing & PR Coordinator, Pork Chop Recipes
Create Your Own Ecosystem When Challenging Health Narratives
As a terminal cancer survivor who built AlternaCare by challenging medical orthodoxy, I’ve faced significant backlash for questioning pharmaceutical narratives. The most surprising came from fellow wellness entrepreneurs who publicly distanced themselves from our foundation after we published research on vaccine ingredients and questioned the COVID-19 spike protein’s role in what we call “turbo cancer.”
These colleagues—once allies—feared association with our “health truth” mission would harm their businesses. I didn’t retreat but instead doubled down by launching Living Prevention TV, creating a platform where censored health information could reach people seeking alternatives to Big Pharma solutions.
My approach was strategic: rather than engaging in defensive arguments, we built a membership-based community (our Living Prevention Members Club) where people could access education about pharma-free living without fear of censorship. This community has become our strongest asset, growing 650% in five years through word-of-mouth from people who’ve experienced health changes.
My advice: when facing backlash for challenging established narratives, create your own ecosystem rather than trying to defend yourself within broken systems. The conventional healthcare model thrives on customers, not cures—so build alternatives that empower people with knowledge they can’t access elsewhere. The strongest response to criticism isn’t more argument but demonstrable results that speak for themselves.
Kari E. Samson, CEO & Founder, AlternaCare Foundation
