Crash Course on Controversial Content Creation

Recently, Danielle found herself in the spotlight of an article but not in a good way...

After a joke she made about walking culture in Spain, she was labeled as a "harsh critique" because she made a comment about how older women in Madrid typically walk (slowly) in the middle of the sidewalk. 

The intent behind her words was to add a touch of humor to an otherwise aggravating pause in the day, not to offend or hurt anyone...but, as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men—it was a humbling experience.

So, here’s what we’ve learned, and hope it helps you in your content creation to avoid (or to navigate if you find yourself in) similar situations:

1️⃣ Intent ≠ Impact

While her intention was playful, the impact was different.

As creators, we can’t control how our audience will interpret our content, but we can control how we frame it. A quick gut check—asking yourself before you post, "Could this be taken the wrong way?"—can save a lot of trouble.

Yes, you still want to remain authentic to you and your opinions are valid, but ensuring that if you're using humor or sarcasm it can be interpreted the way you intend because intent ≠ impact.

2️⃣ Humor is Cultural

What one culture finds funny, another might see as disrespectful.

Living in Spain, we’ve learned how much cultural nuances matter, especially when humor is slipped in the mix. We're fine with controversy and stirring up a good conversation and we're fine with being misunderstood, but only to a degree.

Understanding where the line is, between humorous and hurtful, is crucial.

3️⃣ Own It & Move On

Mistakes happen, as they say: lo que sera, sera; whatever will be will be.

Instead of getting defensive, we accept and admit. Instead of rallying up an army to attack a writer or publication for slander, we're going to use this time to reflect, acknowledge the misunderstanding, and grow as both creators and people.

Accountability builds trust—even during a misstep.

Final Takeaways on Making Controversial Content

As seen here, words can ripple far beyond what we imagine. This experience reminded us how important it is to balance creativity with consideration when you're making controversial content. 

Humor is a powerful tool, but it is like playing with fire when you're in a different culture speaking on dynamics that are not necessarily your own.

The most important lesson we'll be meditating on is how mistakes don’t define us, but how we respond to them does... so moving forward, how we treat this with respect and care is of the utmost importance. 

Thank you to everyone who pointed this out and gave us the chance to reflect. And to the grandmothers on the sidewalks of Spain—thank you for the inadvertent reminder to slow down and appreciate the journey. 💙