Róisín Murphy. Photo by Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images
Irish pop artist Róisín Murphy has issued a statement appearing to address the transphobic comments made on her personal Facebook page, which were screen-capped and published on Twitter last week.
In the Facebook comments, an account with Murphy's name decried the use of the term "TERF" (an acronym for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist) and deemed puberty blockers as "fucked [and] absolutely desolate." "Big Pharma laughing all the way to the bank," she continued. "Little mixed up kids are vulnerable and need to be protected, that's just true."
Puberty blockers are medications prescribed to delay a child's pubescent development if their gender identity does not match their sex. The fallacy that they are harming children has helped super anti-trans legislation across the United States and even spread across ostensibly liberal circles in recent years. In 2022, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health issued a statement in response to a New York Times article on puberty blockers decrying "inaccurate narratives" and debunking its main assertions.
Murphy's statement published on Tuesday (August 29) contained an apology "for being the reason for this eruption of damaging and potentially dangerous social-media fire and brimstone.” Her specific comments are not addressed, though Murphy suggests that she was engaging with a topic she did not know enough about: "I brought up a specific issue that was only broadly related to the original post. It was something that had been on my mind. I knew my friends were informed about the topic. I should've known too that I was stepping out of line."
Addressing fans who may choose to no longer listen to her music over her comments, Murphy wrote, "For those of you who are leaving me, or have already left, I understand, I really do, but please know I have loved every one of you... I understand fixed views are not helpful but I really hope people can understand my concern was out of love for all of us."
The letter concludes with Murphy asserting that she "will now completely bow out of this conversation within the public domain" and not engage in any form of activism around the matter. "My true calling is music and music will never exclude any of us, I believe it will always be one of the greatest tools we can use to create a culture of tolerance."
Read the full letter below.
— Róisín Murphy (@roisinmurphy) August 29, 2023
I have been thrown into a very public discourse in an arena I'm uncomfortable in and deeply unsuitable for. I cannot apologise enough for being the reason for this eruption of damaging and potentially dangerous social-media fire and brimstone. To witness the ramifications of my actions and the divisions it has caused is heartbreaking.
I've had a personal Facebook account for years. The morning I made these comments I was scrolling and I brought up a specific issue that was only broadly related to the original post. It was something that had been on my mind. I knew my friends were informed about the topic. I should've known too that I was stepping out of line.
I've spent my whole life celebrating diversity and different views, but I never patronise or cynically aim my music directly at the pockets of any demographic. The music I make is the core of everything I do and it’s ever-evolving, freewheeling and unpredictable. For those of you who are leaving me, or have already left, I understand, I really do, but please know I have loved every one of you. I have always been so proud of my audience and understood the privilege of performing for you, all through the years.
I am so sorry my comments have been directly hurtful to many of you. You must have felt a huge shock, blindsided by this so abruptly. I understand fixed views are not helpful but I really hope people can understand my concern was out of love for all of us.
I will now completely bow out of this conversation within the public domain. I’m not in the slightest bit interested in turning it into ANY kind of ’campaign’, because campaigning is not what I do. Though I completely understand that for others activism is their true calling, and is necessary and legitimate in a democracy. My true calling is music and music will never exclude any of us, I believe it will always be one of the greatest tools we can use to create a culture of tolerance. Thank you for taking the trouble to read this.
I’m Gone Fishing.
Sincerely, Róisín
