Singer Róisín Murphy Faces Backlash—And Praise From Anti-Trans Activists

Topline

Irish singer Róisín Murphy has faced scrutiny from fans since comments criticizing gender-affirming care for transgender youth on her personal Facebook page went viral over the past week, leading her label to reportedly halt the promotional cycle for her album due out next week—but she’s now garnering support from other critics of transgender healthcare on social media.

Murphy attracted criticism for denouncing the use of puberty blockers on her personal Facebook … [+] account.

Gus Stewart/WireImage

Key Facts

Murphy reportedly called puberty blockers—a form of gender-affirming care for transgender youth that prevent puberty—“absolutely desolate, big pharma laughing all the way to the bank” used for “little mixed-up kids” in a Facebook comment, which was screenshotted and shared across social media, and urged children to be protected.

She also urged people not to call her a “TERF”—or trans-exclusionary radical feminist, a term used as a pejorative against those who advocate for women but oppose transgender identities—and suggested this term is used too often against women.

Following social media backlash, Murphy posted a statement on X on August 29 apologizing for her “directly hurtful” comments and vowing to “completely bow out of this conversation within the public domain,” stating she does not wish to become an activist.

The controversy comes just one week before Murphy is set to release her new album, Hit Parade, and has affected the publicity for her tour.

The Toronto Star reported her label has ceased promotion of the album because of her comments, and The Independent noted in an otherwise positive review of the album that the publication was set to interview Murphy, but her press engagements were canceled.

Forbes reached out to Ninja Tune, Murphy’s record label, for comment.

Chief Critics

Some fans expressed disappointment and outrage over Murphy’s comments and her apology, particularly because she has a large LGBTQ fan base. One tweet, liked more than 1,000 times, stated her apology was lackluster and did not contain any “commitment to learn or grow.” Murphy’s apology did not explicitly mention transgender people or puberty blockers. “The complete absence of any acknowledgment or support of trans-people in this is DEAFENING,” one user posted in a reply to Murphy’s apology, receiving more than 1,000 likes. Other users criticized Murphy’s comments in light of her large LGBTQ following, which she has often touted: “wish there was one sentence here where you uplifted trans people- hate to see this bc the lgbt community is the backbone of your fan base!!” one user posted.

Contra

British writer Victoria Smith compared Murphy’s controversy to that of J.K. Rowling, who has frequently stirred controversy with comments on transgender issues. “As with JKR, I think with Roísín Murphy it’s a case of the more dangerously reasonable you are, the harder you need to be slapped down,” Smith posted on X. English musician Winston Marshall called the backlash against Murphy “ridiculous,” blaming “cancel culture.” Hadley Freeman, a British journalist who formerly wrote for The Guardian but left after alleging an “atmosphere of fear” governs the paper’s coverage of transgender issues, criticized Murphy’s critics for calling her an “evil bigot terf and her new album must be ignored.” Author John Boyne criticized Murphy’s treatment by the “usual rabid online thugs,” stating “her only ‘crime’ is to say that vulnerable children need to be protected from harm” and suggesting the backlash she faced was misogynistic. “#IStandWithRoisinMurphy as misogynists & men’s rights activists try to destroy her career,” Boyne said in a separate post, claiming “the culture of fear is at its most extreme since the McCarthy era.”

Surprising Fact

Though some with anti-transgender views are actively supporting Murphy on social media, some took issue with her apology. “The next child that gets sterilized will be because of you,” conservative media pundit Tim Pool posted to his 1.7 million X followers. “Your spineless cowardice is why this is happening.”

Key Background

Murphy is an Irish singer who first rose to prominence as one half of the musical duo Moloko, with whom she released four albums between 1995 and 2003. Murphy made her solo debut in 2005 with the album Ruby Blue and has released five solo studio albums, most recently Róisín Machine in 2020. Murphy has long enjoyed support from an LGBTQ fan base, about which she has often spoken in interviews. “The fact I have a hardcore gay fan base makes absolute sense in terms of the music and scene that I’ve come out of,” she told Gay Times in 2020.

Singer Róisín Murphy Faces Backlash—And Praise From Anti-Trans Activists—For Criticizing Puberty Blockers