Cancel culture is eroding freedoms fought for in the 1960s, says Nick Broomfield

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield detests wacky attitudes, saying they are a new form of judgmental “puritanism.”

The director, who has just made a film about Rolling Stones legend Brian Jones, said society is now “on the opposite end of the spectrum” from the freedoms of the 1960s because of the rise of cancellation culture and the awakening politics.

Mr Broomfield’s comments arose out of growing concern about the impact of views on the arts and freedom of expression.

He touched on the subject while discussing his latest documentary, The Stones and Brian Jones. The film explores the ‘relationships and rivalries’ within the Stones during their early years. It also discusses the ‘iconoclasm and exuberance’ of the 1960s and the ‘intergenerational conflict’.

Mr Broomfield told the Radio Times: ‘People kind of suspended their judgment in the 1960s and all hell broke loose and there was an amazing abundance of artistic achievement and then everyone got a little scared again.

“We are now on the other side of the spectrum without those kinds of freedoms. The whole “wake up” thing is another puritanism. It’s judgmental in the same way our parents were.” Mr Broomfield, whose film will be shown on BBC2 later this month, also criticized the TV streaming companies, calling them “a bunch of bastards” who wanted “everything to be authorized” before making a film.

He added, “They would never have made this movie without Mick’s permission [Jagger] and Kees [Richards].’

Brian Jones was the leader of the Rolling Stones and the other band members said they were ‘impressed’ by him. He was found dead in his swimming pool in 1969, aged 27.

Mr. Broomfield has covered many controversial subjects during his career as a documentary filmmaker, ranging from American serial killer Aileen Wuornos and Hollywood Ms. Heidi Fleiss to Whitney Houston and American politician Sarah Palin.