Cancel Culture isn't a new thing. Its just a new term for "accountability" so that people participating in the today's Culture War have something to be mad about.
Why is getting fired or deplatformed considered "being cancelled", yet never getting the job nor ever having a large outreach is not? I think a lot of people don't realize that they themselves are inherently cancelled and are defending people that don't need defending.
Further, in today's society where information is more freely distributed and broadcasted, it makes sense that more people are being found "accountable" for their actions. Before, you had to tell your story to the newspaper, local news, etc., and if they didn't like your story... well... guess who is getting "cancelled"? Not the powerful guy who is beloved by the media.
I think its also no surprise that this is a prevalently American narrative, where broadcasting and media standards leave much to be desired. The only high profile case in Canada of someone "getting cancelled" is Don Cherry.