Cancel Culture and Courage: How to Rise Above Shaming with Sara McArthur Pierce

In today’s divisive political climate, being a Trump supporter often feels like wearing a modern-day scarlet letter. Social stigma, cancel culture, and public shaming have created a hostile environment for those who openly support certain candidates, especially Donald Trump.

Many have faced personal and professional consequences, from social media attacks to job loss, for standing by their political beliefs. However, this “scarlet letter” has also inspired a movement of resilience, as people continue to defend their right to free speech and political choice, refusing to back down in the face of opposition. We caught up with one of those people.

Meet Sara McArthur Pierce: a wife, mom, home designer, and former guest on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. But what truly made waves wasn’t her time on reality TV—it was her political beliefs.

Sara boldly showcased her support for Trump on social media, sporting the “red hat”, and even attending the now-famous January 6th rally—though she never entered the Capitol. A single photo of her at the rally was enough to spark backlash. No doubt, there were unfortunate events of damage to the Capitol and, tragically, a woman was shot by police and killed. But was Sara a part of that? No, she wasn’t. She was simply in attendance. Boom, done. Branded: White Supremacist. A harsh, unfair, and incredibly incorrect label for using her First Amendment right to peacefully protest.

We all know the drill by now: you proclaim your right, conservative leanings to the public, and they respond by lambasting you with every insult and negative label they can think of. Oh, and the truth doesn’t matter. Not to the emotional herd of leftist, “social justice”, woke, anons on the internet.

By January 8, 2021 Sara was called out on Twitter for her presence at the Capitol. Followed by an article on January 10, 2021 by The Sun, “‘GET HER OFF THE SHOW’ RHOSLC fans demand Bravo fire Sara McArthur Pierce after attending Capitol riot but she says she ‘peacefully protested’”.

The cruelty continued with a petition on Change.org on January 19, 2021  titled “Remove Sara, the white supremacist, from the Real Housewives”, garnering over 6,000 signatures to remove her from the show and labeling her a “white supremacist”.

Imagine waking up to thousands of people publicly accusing you of such a charge?

Rising Above 

Oddly enough, we learned from Sara that a strange coincidence—or, in her opinion, a confirmation from God—occured on January 6. That evening, “her” episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City aired. It was an episode that heavily featured her as another cast member went to her for some advice.

In her words, it was hard to ignore the “timing that would place the spotlight directly on me during this political upheaval, the unplanned timing of having what I would consider, ‘my episode’, air on the same day I had made the major decision to attend the Trump rally event and peacefully protest.”

She added that “some might have found it horribly unlucky, but I saw it as fortuitous as I had wrestled with my desire or intention to be on the show, then, and in the future.” Perhaps, this series of events, no matter how stressful, unfair, and hurtful, is designed for a greater reason beyond our current understanding. Sara doesn’t shy away from this understanding of the last few years of her life.

In fact, she says: “I did not feel regret. I felt the initial wave of emotions … then I felt a great stillness settle over me. I bore witness that there are no coincidences, I felt a confirmation from God, that I was where I was supposed to be. I didn’t have an understanding of what I knew I was being redirected towards, but I knew it was something larger and more important than what I had planned for myself. I may have lost my influence and voice in one sphere but I would find it and gain it in another.”

Culture and Courage with Sara McArthur Pierce

The best way to describe what it’s like as a Trump supporter between the years 2020 and 2024 is to ask someone who has experienced the attacks and shaming first-hand. We are so grateful to Sara for taking time and sharing with us her thoughts and story.

Can you describe the moment when you first realized you were being “canceled”?

I remember being in my hotel room in DC and seeing myself being tagged over and over on Instagram. I hadn’t seen the episode that had aired yet, and I wasn’t aware anyone knew I had attended the rally.

I believe the first [post] I saw was a screenshot of myself on the show and something along the lines of, “Not this racist bitch on my screen on this very day!” I remember feeling a pit in my stomach and a deep ache in my heart. I became very, very still, I knew it was going to hurt, and hurt bad, despite the inner knowing it was the right thing to do and the sense of peace.

It didn’t and doesn’t take away the pain. I realized a friend whom I attended the rally with had posted a picture of me on her Facebook. There was a moment of panic, as I realized I was going to become a scapegoat for anger and blame in some online communities. I did not know how bad it was going to get or what the repercussions were going to be. I just knew there would be consequences—I didn’t imagine I would be facing them so suddenly because my intention was not to advertise my attendance.

But there was a different plan for me, and I have gratitude now for the way things unfolded. I remember that by the time evening came, people were tagging my Instagram page and calling me the most vile and hideous things one could think of. I later found out there were many bots turned onto my different social media in order to bully me.

I was branded racist, homophobic, transphobic—everything from my looks to my children were attacked. My page had, at the time, close to 20k followers and I received constant harassment and even death threats against myself and my children. After several more weeks of this, I had to shut down my social media for the safety of my family and my mental health. I felt like I had lost my voice, and part of my support system—it felt very hopeless at that time. It felt like I was losing every battle. I know many patriots during this time also felt this way, with the vaccines, COVID shutdowns, election integrity issues and the immigration surge.

I coped through words. The written and spoken. I have always found comfort in reading scripture, philosophy and psychology.  During this time I re-read some of my favorite passages from Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. One is the many quotes that stood out to me was:

“What is to give light, must endure burning.” 

The choice to live in my values meant showing up with the willingness to endure the consequences for letting my light, my authentic self, be seen.

How did you discover the Change.org petition to have you banned from RHOSLC? What was the Bravo/RHOSLC response?

I had people on social media who, I believe, had good intentions, who were continually forwarding me basically everything that was coming out about the situation and myself. So I was forwarded the petition. As far as I remember, there was no response or reaction directly from Bravo or RHOSLC regarding my involvement. However, I believe, inadvertently, there may have been direction or advice given to some of the cast mates to basically, “shut down”, disown and condemn me/my behavior.

This was extremely confusing and hurtful to me, because it was done by people who I thought were my friends—they never spoke to me privately beforehand, and most have never after or since. But they’ve made sweeping statements and generalizations about me, January 6th, and the ‘insurrection’ that were almost verbatim the media narrative.

There was nothing I remember in defense of the attacks on my character which were so obviously untrue and false. Viktor Frankl says, “It is not the physical pain which hurts the most; it is the mental agony caused by the injustice, the unreasonableness of it all.” You have to understand, I am a highly sensitive person, a bit neurodivergent, and I find injustice extremely upsetting. This was a very difficult personal trial to endure because I was battling with my mind, for logic, for reason, for understanding and many times there just wasn’t any.

Each statement released by someone involved in or around the show seemed catered toward the angry mob. It seemed an attempt to “appease the beast” and prevent their own cancellation. Other cast mates, whom I also considered friends, used the opportunity to highlight themselves, bringing race into it and insinuating I was racist. Others were responding to drama being caused online by those who attempted to use the situation to shame and belittle people who were perceived to be the most associated with me. It really became a form of instant humiliation to be associated with me, especially if you wanted to participate in society.

This attempt to cancel me and anyone who stood up for me from society, from being online, from having a career, from having a voice was one of the most bizarre things I have ever witnessed. To take those things from someone, for the crime of having done nothing is akin to killing that person, putting that person down, for daring to have a contrary opinion than the approved messaging. There was a concerted effort to harshly and publicly disavow and detach from me.

Even a convicted criminal, who was on the show for several more seasons, who destroyed the livelihoods and savings of the elderly and the vulnerable was treated with more grace, humanity  and respect by her castmates and the show’s fans than I was. That is absolute and total madness and that tells you a lot about what the GOP and the right was, and is, up against.

Being a vocal, influential, female Trump supporter in a far Left media environment was the ULTIMATE sin. THE scarlet letter. I lost a lot in those following days. I lost friendships, hopes, plans, dreams, support systems, and my ability to use my voice or participate in society as I did previously. My character was assassinated—and for what? For DARING to support President Donald Trump and his vision and future for the United States of America.

What was the most hurtful part about this attempt to cancel you? 

I would say the most hurtful part about this was watching some of my own close family and friends retreat from me and not come to my defense and aid against such unfair and unjust attacks. Another thing was the victim blaming. To be honest, there were even times when my husband, in his frustration at not being able to take away my suffering or shield me from it, commented that it was my fault, and that I just shouldn’t have gone.

It shook our marriage and has had lasting effects. My desire to maintain my freedom of speech and thought has dominated most of my life choices. This love of justice has always guided me, but now, my stubborn refusal to cower caused stress and suffering for more than just myself; it hurt my family, it made people lose faith and trust in me. It made people who ought to trust me believe I had led them into danger. And to be honest, it was dangerous—doing what is right sometimes is dangerous. Doing what is right sometimes requires courage and bravery and to be fearless. That is not easy to summon if you have not been practicing and refining those traits in yourself. But YOU MUST start somewhere. Be Brave.

It was a very stark contrast to even just days before, people wanting to be around me, associate with me,  take photos with me, see what  benefit my money or social standing could offer them, or what being near the limelight could offer them. Suddenly friends are taking down photos on social media, not wanting to take photos with me when we were out, not posting photos, asking me not to post, or asking me not to tag them if we were together. I felt dirty, I felt used, I felt shamed.

I was not and am not mad at these people.

First and foremost, understand what it is like to be the target of harassment and bullying, and no one wants to bring that on themselves. I did not blame them, but I also, much to the shock and horror, of the left mob, wouldn’t blame myself. I wouldn’t apologize, or denounce, or agree with the narrative and I still don’t, and I still won’t. I know what I saw and heard, and what I think and believe. We aren’t quite yet living in 1984. I didn’t do anything wrong, and 2+2 does not equal 5.

How did the online backlash affect you personally and professionally?

Personally, I vacillated between feelings. On one hand I felt aligned and grateful to have had the courage to make and follow through with the choices that I did, and having the emotional stamina to not cave to the pressure or bullying.

However, the other feeling was of rejection, a loss of identity and a loss of community. I didn’t know who I was without being somewhat of a socialite in our small area, and popular. I didn’t know who I was without being invited or wanted around. The injustice was that nothing about me had changed—I was still the same person, only millions of people were aware of my political beliefs and I sustained en mass political persecution.

I used this time of somewhat isolation to go inward. I read a lot. I prayed a lot. I cried a lot.

I felt confused and didn’t know what I had to offer anymore. I had to spend a lot of time evaluating and redefining what gave myself value. I would say professionally I lost my confidence to accept opportunities for further seasons because I didn’t want to be beaten down more, or used as an example to warn other Trump supporting women to retreat back into more silence and fear.

I found myself as a designer, (during this time I was designing and working on my own home) not wanting to tell vendors or people my full name, wondering if and what they knew about me. Wondering if they believed the slander that I was a “white supremacist” or had googled me. It was just not a fun time to be me. I am so lucky and grateful that I did not need to work, that my husband and God were able to provide everything our family needed. It also reminded me of my duty to continue to stand up and be a voice because I had the freedom and independence to do so; we were self employed and financially free. I had so many people reach out to me with similar beliefs but without the power to use their voice because it was a very real threat that they could be fired or face consequences at work that would affect their ability to put food on the table. It was just so evil and unfair.

Did you anticipate this reaction when you expressed your political views/attended a rally?

I think subconsciously I did. The writing was on the wall that the “Left” and many in the country had moved into this very communistic, group-think mindset and subsequent behavior.  Understanding the Why made the How possible, (another excellent Frankl quote hidden in there), so I set out to make sure I understood WHY this was happening. Many times I was left tearful and breathless at the pain and cruelty of it, accepting it and continuing to accept it again and again was difficult.

In my experience, in order for that groupthink to survive it has no other choice but to disparage and dispose of individual thought as quickly and humiliatingly as possible.

It reminded me of Mao and communist China, the “struggle sessions” and “denunciation rallies”, the intense moral superiority others felt, due to the propaganda, that justified the abuse and humiliation, of those who couldn’t or wouldn’t be swayed adequately by the propaganda. The sessions kept everyone in fear of becoming the next target, but they also created a highly motivated civilian surveillance state.

The propaganda during 2016-2021 and beyond had worked so well no actual entity or organization had to do the heavy lifting to enforce the propaganda. The fans and followers of the show or politics did the dirty work themselves and felt, not just vindicated, but like good citizens.

I know it was important for me to have this lived experience and I am sure over the course of my lifetime I will understand more of the why.

The Aftermath of Cancellation

What support systems helped you navigate the bullying and cancel culture?

Listen, you don’t just jump into a foxhole alone nor do you set out to lose 😂. You set out to win. The year between filming RHOSLC and everything that happened with Cv19 and the election all changed me dramatically. I had massive paradigm shifts and I was no longer the same person who filmed that season. I was having many doubts about participating in any upcoming seasons because of what I had learned and my new political alignment.

Thankfully that same year I had found a really incredible online and in-person patriot community in my area. These people “got it”. You didn’t have to explain what was happening; they were able to see it for what it was and see it everywhere.They taught me so much and they held so much space for me as I realized the ways in which I had been used and exploited by the left, feminism, and their “state sanctioned religion.” This patriot group offered nothing but love and support when I asked or needed. They gave me a social home when I was homeless, some of the most unlikely people to ever meet “in the real world” but we were brought together by our love for our country and what it stands for. Real tried and true modern day patriots. Having even one or two people who you can talk to about your real beliefs, who validate you and understand you, will change your life. This support system, especially the women, the moms (sniffle) in this group, most who I am still real-life friends with to this day, quite literally saved my life.

I read the Bible a lot. I read about suffering. I read about loving those who spitefully use and abuse you, but I also read about protecting what is sacred. I developed a love and understanding of righteous anger. Like I said, I read a lot of other books about patriotism, human nature, stoicism, suffering, psychology and the law—I became as proficient as I could in trying to understand the people who were in opposition to my freedom of thought.

I also spent a lot of time with animals and in nature. Many of us during and after Covid isolated, went inward, slowed down. We thought more. My dog, Chip, was such an emotional support to me.

I would watch Trump speak whenever I could. The example of Donald Trump all the years prior and what he had to go through and endure reminded me that I was perfectly capable. Watching him choose what was RIGHT over money, fame, popularity, convenience and comfort gave me hope and strength. He is an amazing man. Our country does not deserve him. I am forever grateful.

Did the experience change your perspective on free speech or political expression?

Yes, definitely.

We currently do not have free speech or freedom of political expression in the United States of America, as it was intended, in my opinion. The exception being maybe Twitter. Thank God for Elon Musk, but even then, if you’re not using an alias, there is so much that can be lost. Many people can not use their voices because they may lose their job, friendships, opportunities, etc.

Others have lost their voice due to watching others be violently smeared, attacked and canceled. They have been beaten into submission and a state of perpetual disassociation. I have seen many people succumb to hopelessness, become “black pilled”, or totally apathetic.  The state-sanctioned narrative that must be pumped out at all cost and enforced by oligarchy-like relationships with big corp and big tech is purposely deceptive, coercive and abusive. It is anti-American and it is wrong.

What were the most common criticisms or insults you received, and how did you handle them?

I briefly touched on this above, but I would say:

White supremacist

Racist

Homophone

Transphobe

Conspiracy theorist

Crazy/insane

“Do Better” (so many high horse vibes with this one 🙄)

Get Educated

Ignorant

Hillbilly

Schill

Anti feminist

Republican lapdog

In the beginning, I argued in the comments and messages trying desperately to defend myself and keep my head above water—attempting to “prove” I was not those things. It was a very short amount of time before I realized that people, strangers, associates, and friends were more concerned with being able to give me a nice “holier than thou” slap across the face than hear the truth.

It truly was NOT ABOUT ME. It was about them and how participating in the group shaming made them feel.

I had to remind myself that the people who were throwing these names out to me, these labels, are also victims. They are victims of the media, the political machine, at times celebrities, and/or influencers. Most of these people, not all, are unknowingly being used. They are being used as an unpaid army/police state by a machine that had, it seemed, full control of their responses and behavior. The machine does this by exploiting some of the qualities within these people that make them the most human and humane. They exploit their empathy, traumatic experiences, need to belong, jealousy, envy and hate. And they exploit their insecurities by letting them believe that they cannot achieve what others can so there is a form of justice in destroying what someone else has built because it isn’t fair.

Were there any positive outcomes or lessons you took away from this experience?

Sooo many. Even though I know it would have been unbearable to not look for the good in this situation, or to seek the silver lining, the absolute truth was it presented itself. Not everyday and not always when I needed it the most, but it was there. I received so many private messages of support, love, and hope from people wishing they could stand up for their beliefs too. Messages of gratitude. I made connections and friends, mainly with people online, I never would have known otherwise. I found out who MY people were, the ones who did come to defend me. The ones who loved me even though we may have disagreed politically. The ones who could see me through it all. The ones who allowed me to be myself and not have to fit into a totally traditional and austere version of what a conservative woman or Trump supporter looks like.

I got to define that for myself. I am not someone’s stereotype. I was able to truly find out what I valued the most and pivot to recommit myself to that work in my community and with my family. I was an example to my son and my family at the time and I am so proud of that. I know my son is so proud of me and his trust in me standing up for my children no matter the cost is solidified. I feel like a badass!

How do you see cancel culture evolving, and what advice would you give others who face similar attacks?

Thankfully the tides are shifting, and have shifted. No matter what the media says, we are WINNING the culture war. Like Trump always says, we are because of everyday extraordinary Americans just like me AND YOU. The loss of celebrity worship and the lifting of the curtain has left most people disenchanted.

Cancel culture has lost its bite to some extent, as far as it can leave you in isolation. There is a place for you. There is safety and community out there. Depending on where you live it may be just online for a while, but it is a protective community that welcomes anyone regardless of their previous leanings. It is a community that cheers you on when you can admit you were wrong. It is a community that will remind you of the tactics abusers use when they are losing control over you.

Facing these attacks for some may be unavoidable. You can create emotional safety for yourself by doing what I did: reading, studying, praying—all of which can be done for free. Facing criticism and judgment from people in your everyday life or who are close to you will require authenticity, boundaries and a commitment to respect; respecting yourself by not engaging with abusive or hurtful behavior or conversation, and respect for others if they cannot accept or agree with your decisions or choices. You don’t need to convince or prove to anyone that you are right or good.

We are leaving those disempowering behaviors in the past and choosing advocacy for self, family, community and nation. Allowing our righteous anger to motivate us to change what we can, where we can, and embrace radical self acceptance when others mock us, retaliate and condemn us for our viewpoints.

What would you say to women who are afraid to share their political beliefs, or are closet conservatives or Trump supporters to encourage them to publicly show their support of the candidate of their choice?

I would tell them that this ends when we say it does. A quote by Frederick Douglas says:

“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

We will endure no more. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we have too. As women, mothers and Americans we have that spirit inside of us that finally says “Enough!”

We have the privilege of living in the United States of America where we are still granted protection of our first amendment rights—even if we must fight and wrestle them back.

Publicly show your support so there is no question who won.

Let your faith overcome your fear, the best is yet to come. It truly is. Choose this for yourself, for your children, for your family. Let everyone in your circle of influence feel emboldened to share their voice EVEN if it differs from yours. Feel it, can you feel the change? Can you feel the excitement and the hope?

Allow yourself to feel your righteous anger. Allow your apathy and your numbness to be set aside and thank them for their protection while you needed them. You don’t need those anymore. You are not alone. Even if no one else shows up for you fighting in your corner, I promise that I will.

You are a step-mother and mother to a young daughter – how has this experience shaped your parenting?

I am the proud mother to a 13-year-old son, a ten-month-old baby girl, and 5 amazing step-children, ages ranging from 13-22!

I feel so proud everyday for choosing the battles I have fought, and knowing the reason I chose those battles was because of love. Love of God, love of my country, love of my children, love of my community and the children within it.

I have hopefully taught them it’s not their job to get people to like them, it is their job to like themselves, but that we also exist in a community.

I hopefully have taught them that if you are the person who can do it, then you are the person who should step up, take leadership roles. and contribute where you can.

I hopefully have taught them that just because you can hang with the in-crowd, doesn’t mean that’s where you belong, sometimes you are needed in unlikely places.

I have taught them that questioning authority is okay and that people, authority and institutions, must PROVE they have your best interest at heart before you should give them more authority or more priority than you give your parents, family, and self.

Are you more or less politically active following your political persecution? 

Oh man, what a journey it has been. This experience and this persecution turned me from a pretty party girl into a pretty political party girl . I have become one of the biggest grassroots advocates in our state and have been involved in securing freedoms in Utah regarding COVID abuse, health freedom, holding government and media accountable, election integrity, gubernatorial campaign, and more. I have only become more educated, more energized and more excited about what can be done.

After one of the hardest, most oppressive times in her life, Sara has refused to bow down. In fact, contrary to what some would expect, she’s said that “very very slowly—and over a lot of time—did I learn to see this as one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I got to be shamed and humiliated for my beliefs and still I stood strong.”

It is that brand of moral perseverance and endurance that is required of us all if we are to stand for truth and beauty. Of course, no political candidate can shed their human side—that is, no one is perfect—but when we see the right and wrong, and choose the right, we will be put to the test. With God’s help, like Sara, we will pass the test and come out the other side stronger.

“Not everyone in every lifetime will get to feel their inner strength like that.”