The avant-garde pop singer Róisín Murphy was set to perform on Thursday evening at the sold-out Rheinterrassen in Düsseldorf as part of the New Fall Festival. Festival organizer Hamed Shahi told the “Rheinische Post” that he sharply criticized the 52-year-old’s transphobic statements.
“Some statements by Róisín Murphy have hurt people and run counter to our values of diversity, equality, and respect,” the organizer said. “I distance myself clearly from her statements, which I find hurtful.” At the same time, his festival aims to “facilitate dialogue.” “People should exchange and discuss — that is just as important to us.” A cancellation would, according to Shahi, be neither legally nor culturally justifiable.
He also explained that Cancel Culture is not the right path: “Of course there are red lines — but Róisín Murphy is an artist with whom I want to engage.”
Fight against recognition of young trans people
Murphy had previously stoked hostility toward trans people on social media on several occasions, but she also did not want to be labeled a TERF, i.e., a “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.” In 2023 she wrote on Facebook: “Please don’t call me a TERF. But puberty blockers ARE SHIT.” She further stated that she would advocate protecting “young confused children” from transgender identity. The statements shocked many fans, as she had previously been regarded as queer-friendly. After criticism, she apologized and said she would not comment on the topic anymore.
Just over a week ago she launched a new tirade: she posted on X a controversial statistic claiming that fewer young people identify as trans, and she said about trans people: “It was never real. But it is terribly sad. Absolute chaos has been wrought against children, families, and society.” LGBTI activists criticized her statement. Studies consistently show that medical care for young trans people reduces the risk of depression and suicide. Moreover, a possible decline in people publicly identifying as trans is likely linked more to rising transphobia across the Western world than to actual changes in numbers.
The nonbinary US act The Blessed Madonna criticized Murphy sharply on Instagram: “You’ve messed with me one time too many. You were never a queer icon. You’re just another dusty TERF who knows how to count queer money and look good.”
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Anders als Düsseldorf reagierten Festivalsorganisator*innen in der Türkei: Nach den transphoben Äußerungen lud das Back In Town Festival in Istanbul Murphy kurzfristig aus. Eigentlich sollte Murphy am letzten Wochenende die Headlinerin des Festivals sein. Die Veranstalter*innen erklärten, dass sie ein Event veranstalten wollten, “bei dem sich jede Person sicher und willkommen fühlen kann”. Das sei mit Murphy nicht möglich. (dk)
