JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="https://cdn.datatables.net/v/dt/dt-1.10.16/sl-1.2.5/datatables.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.datatables.net/v/dt/dt-1.10.16/sl-1.2.5/datatables.min.css">
<table id="test">
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>Hello</th>
    <th>There</th>
  </tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>General Kenobi, </td>
    <td><a href="#">I've been expecting you</a></td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

JavaScript

var table = $("#test").DataTable({
  select: {
  	style: "multi"
  }
});

table.on( 'user-select', function ( e, dt, type, cell, originalEvent ) {
  if ( originalEvent.target.nodeName.toLowerCase() === 'a' ) {
    return false;
  }
} );