Phoebe Bridgers Defends Late Idol Sinéad O’Connor: 'She Was Ostracized'
Phoebe Bridgers wants justice for Sinéad O'Connor.
A week after the singer's passing, the Grammy-nominated artist penned a thoughtful essay published on Rolling Stone about O'Connor's legacy.
It delves into how the Irish artist was under severe scrutiny from the media and other musicians for speaking out about social issues, including standing up against the Catholic church in her iconic, controversial Saturday Night Live performance.
"Whether it’s about the famine or the Catholic Church or Margaret Thatcher, history is on her side in a way it wasn’t at the time," wrote the 28-year-old. "People and the media were not nice to her. She was ostracized from so many things, and so many people thought she was a grumpy person."
The Boygenius band member continued, "It's abuse to be told to shut up and sing. It's abuse to be worshipped and then hated. It's such a sad and heartbreaking story. Behind every famous woman are tons and tons of rape and death threats. She made a huge sacrifice for women and for musicians and for people who believe in things. She was so not rewarded for it."
Additionally, the "I Know the End" singer detailed how O'Connor's activism encouraged her to also use her platform to bring attention to important political issues, noting, "She made me feel like I was allowed to stand for things. It's still hard, but I feel so lucky to be in a landscape where I can feel validated and my beliefs are taken seriously. And that world exists because of Sinéad's sacrifice."
Elsewhere in the essay, Bridgers also shared that she became a fan of the late Grammy winner's work through her mom, and was inspired to shave her head thanks to O'Connor's iconic haircut. " I definitely shaved it for her. I have the worst-shaped head, so there weren’t many people I would have shaved my head for," she joked.
Bridgers had previously covered O'Connor's song "Black Boys on Mopeds" during her 2020 KEXP live session. The cover was received with much praise from fans on social media.
Next: Sinéad O'Connor's Earnest Message for Miley Cyrus Resurfaces Following Her Death