BBC axes Roisin Murphy songs, interviews and concert highlights from music programme with no explanation – after singer sparked trans row with puberty blocker comments
Singer Roisin Murphy has been cancelled by the BBC after criticising puberty blockers.
The star was due to be celebrated in ten hours of shows on the Corporation’s 6 Music channel next week but on Monday bosses decided to axe them – leaving staff at the station furious.
Five hours of Ms Murphy’s songs, interviews and highlights of her concerts which were put together for a programme called the 6 Music Artist Collection was due to be aired between midnight and 5am next Monday, and again on Tuesday.
However, they were suddenly cancelled earlier this week with no explanation given to production staff.
Instead, new shows have been made to feature woke rapper Little Simz.
Singer Roisin Murphy has been cancelled by the BBC as her songs, interviews and concert highlights are axed from music programme
Róisín Murphy, pictured here at Connect Festival 2023, clled puberty blockers ‘absolutely desolate, big pharma laughing all the way to the bank’
Some old radio programmes featuring Ms Murphy, who was previously in 90’s band Moloko, are also unavailable to listen to on BBC Sounds.
READ MORE: Has Róisín Murphy been cancelled already? Two of Moloko frontwoman’s gigs are axed in London as record label refuses to promote new album
Two weeks ago, in a post written on Facebook, Ms Murphy called puberty blockers – 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.’ She also urged for children to be protected.
Murphy requested that people did not call her a ‘TERF’ —or trans-exclusionary radical feminist which is 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.
The post was screenshotted and shared across social media, prompted much anger from the trans community.
Ms Murphy later apologised for her comments.
An insider told the Mail: ‘The BBC is supposed to be an impartial organisation so it is outrageous that Roisin can’t express her view without being cancelled by our national broadcaster.
Murphy, pictured here performing in Milan, Italy, on July 16 has since apologised for her comments
‘It’s like she has had her voice taken away from her, it basically means that she can’t say what she thinks if she wants to appear on a licence fee funded airwaves. Whatever happened to free speech?
READ MORE: Roisin Murphy lands biggest chart success of her entire career despite trans activists calling for her to be cancelled over ‘puberty blockers’ comment
‘There are many people working at 6 Music who are deeply upset by this decision, and to make things worse the bosses weren’t exactly open about it.
‘They wondering what this means for them, they thought they worked at a place with open views.’
It is understood that a meeting was held on Monday where the situation was discussed. The schedule was later changed and published on their website despite her being on course to claim the second spot on the UK album chart for her sixth studio album, Hit Parade, which was released last Friday.
Two of Ms Murphy’s concerts, due to take place in London this week, have been have been cancelled, with her fans describing the decision as an example of cancel culture.
She had been due to play two acoustic shows and take part in two signings at Rough Trade East in London this Friday, but these were cancelled at short notice with no reason given as to why.
There have also been reports that Ms Murphy’s record label, Ninja Tune, will stop its public relations campaign for her new album and will release it without promotion.
Five hours of Ms Murphy’s songs, interviews and highlights of her concerts which were put together for a BBC programme called the 6 Music Artist Collection, but has since been scrapped
The Irish singer posted an apology on Twitter saying: ‘I have been thrown into a very public discourse in an arena I’m uncomfortable in and deeply unsuitable for’
Plans are also reportedly in place to give all proceeds from the album to organisations that combat transphobia.
Ms Murphy later apologised in a statement on Twitter where she said she has spent her life ‘celebrating diversity and different views’, adding: ‘The music I make is the core of everything I do and it’s ever-evolving, freewheeling and unpredictable.
‘For those of you that are leaving me, or have already left, I understand, I really do, but please know I have loved every one of you.’
A BBC spokeswoman said: ‘The Artist Collections from our archive are regularly on rotation and frequently change to reflect station-wide initiatives as they get confirmed.’
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