Róisín Murphy is removed from Istanbul festival after claiming being trans and non-binary was ‘never real’
"I am not interested in being their 'mother' or 'queen'; these babies need to grow up," says the singer
By Aaron Sugg
Irish singer Róisín Murphy has been removed from the Back In Town Festival in Istanbul, Turkey, following backlash over a recent social media post claiming being trans and non-binary was “never real”.
Murphy, who previously faced criticism in 2023 for comments about puberty blockers, reignited controversy last week after sharing a disputed chart online showing the decline of young people identifying as non-binary or trans.
“It was never real. Terribly sad though. Absolute havoc wreaked on children, families, and society,” wrote the singer on X beneath the data, which appeared to come from a US survey by Tufts University.
“I do not want them anywhere near me or my music” – Róisín Murphy speaking out against backlash
Murphy later responded in a lengthy post addressing the backlash she received online, criticising what she called a “mob” of online activists and adding, “I won’t be held to ransom, no more blackmail.”
The statement read: “The mob is out in force. The more I see of this cruel ‘activism,’ the more convinced I am that I do not want them anywhere near me or my music, however that may affect my career.”
She added: “I am not interested in being their ‘mother’ or ‘queen’; these babies need to grow up and allow artists like myself the dignity of opinion and the space and freedom to create.”
“The statements she shared in recent days completely eliminated these feelings” – Back In Town Festival organisers on Murphy’s comments
Following Murphy’s comments, the Back In Town Festival removed her from the line-up over the weekend, replacing her Turkish singer-songwriter Kalben.
In a statement, as per Stereogum, organisers said: “We are extremely excited about the Back In Town Festival, which will be held for the first time this year. From the idea phase, we started with the dream of a true music festival centred in Istanbul, which we missed – one that includes everyone in all their diversity, where everyone can feel safe and belong.”
It continued: “We added Róisín Murphy to our line-up as a headliner, believing that she represents the energy we missed and that she touched many of you deeply. However, the statements she shared in recent days completely eliminated these feelings.”
“We would like to state that we cannot include her in our programme” – Back In Town Festival organisers removing Murphey from their setlist
Adding that the event will still go ahead, they said: “We would like to state that we cannot include her in our programme, keeping the values we try to introduce to you above all things – and knowing that this stance cannot have any financial equivalent.”
Addressing the social media comments that got her barred from the event, Murphy’s statement continued: “The post that has caused such frantic panic among the trans activist mob is a graph that shows a steep decline in trans and non-binary identity among young people over the past few years in the USA.
“My declaration ‘it was never real’ refers to the contagion that was undoubtedly aided by the submission of the media, captured medical institutions, and social media derangement.”
“The insane belief that one can change sex” – Murphy responding to the online backlash
In her post, Murphy claimed that what she described as “blind and irresponsible” behaviour surrounding discussions of gender identity has begun to be challenged, saying that more people are “standing up” to question what she called the negative consequences of “trans ideology.”
She argued that “children, families, women, and gay people have all been adversely affected by the insane belief that one can change sex” while alleging that “bad-faith actors” have profited from it.
Her statement concluded: “I know in my heart that one day I will be remembered as a brave person, both morally and artistically uncompromising. In the long run, that will be my legacy.”
