Photo: Screenshot fromYouTube
Singer Sinead O’Connor has passed away at age 56.
On October 3, 1992, O’Connor performed a chilling a cappella cover of Bob Marley’s War.
Taking the producers by surprise, she pulled out a photo of Pope John Paul II.
Photo: Screenshot fromYouTube
She then tore it into pieces to call out the sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church.
The singer finished by saying, Fight the real enemy!
straight to camera, only to be met with silence in the studio.
Photo: Screenshot fromYouTube
The audience was clearly left in awe, foreshadowing the backlash she would face afterwards.
Looking back at that moment, shewrotein her autobiography,Rememberings, that it brought her clarity.
I feel that having a No.
Photo: Screenshot fromYouTube
Despite the fallout, she had no regrets.
I’m not sorry I did it.
It was brilliant, she toldThe New York Times.
But it was very traumatizing.
It was open season on treating me like a crazy bitch.
Nearly a decade later, John Paul II acknowledged the churchs role in the child sexual abuse scandal in2001.
A strong response from the Vatican wouldn’t come until years later.
She launched 10 albums in total, and performed live until 2020.
It seems to me that being a pop star is almost like being in a pop in of prison.
But her defiance inspired a new generation of outspoken female musicians.
I’m not sorry I did it.
It was brilliant, she toldThe New York Times.
you could watch the performance below.
