Róisín Murphy has addressed the fallout from a viral screenshot that appears to show her commenting, from a personal Facebook account, that young trans people are “little mixed up kids” and that “puberty blockers are fucked.” She wrote today (August 29) on X, formerly known as Twitter, “I am so sorry my comments have been directly hurtful to many of you,” adding, “I understand fixed views are not helpful but I really hope people can understand my concern was out of love for all of us.” In the statement, Murphy does not disown the comments themselves, which misrepresent the prevalence and harm of puberty blockers, but says she will “now completely bow out of this conversation within the public domain.” Read the full statement below.

Though her statement refers to “social-media fire and brimstone,” Pitchfork could not verify that the Facebook comment came from her account. Her publicist would not confirm that today’s statement refers to the viral comment.

The Facebook comment, which was screenshot out of the context of the thread, provoked strong pushback across social media, particularly given Murphy’s long-standing affinity with queer communities. It began with a plea for people to avoid using the term “TERF,” referring to the acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminists. It went on to denounce puberty blockers, which, if prescribed by a doctor, delay the physical changes of puberty in children whose gender identity does not match the one assigned at birth. The comment described puberty blockers as “absolutely desolate, big Pharma laughing all the way to the bank.”

Many trans people report severe hurdles in obtaining puberty blockers and subsequent gender-affirming treatment. Among those prescribed puberty blockers, the risk of suicidal ideation significantly decreases, as shown in research reported by GLAAD. The topic has become a lightning rod in the United States as a flurry of legislation has sought to eradicate trans rights.

In today’s statement, Murphy admitted she is “uncomfortable in and deeply unsuited for” the discourse she started. She wrote, “I cannot apologise enough for being the reason for this eruption of damaging and potentially dangerous social-media fire and brimstone.” She added that, having spent her “whole life celebrating diversity and different views,” she wants to return her focus to music and its capacity to “create a culture of tolerance.”

Róisín Murphy:

I have been thrown into a very public discourse in an arena I’m uncomfortable in and deeply unsuited for. I cannot apologise enough for being the reason for this eruption of damaging and potentially dangerous social-media fire and brimstone. To witness the ramifications of my actions and the divisions it has caused is heartbreaking.

I’ve had a personal Facebook account for years. The morning I made these comments I was scrolling and I brought up a specific issue that was only broadly related to the original post. It was something that had been on my mind. I knew my friends were informed about the topic. I should’ve known too that I was stepping out of line.

I’ve spent my whole life celebrating diversity and different views, but I never patronise or cynically aim my music directly at the pockets of any demographic. 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. I have always been so proud of my audience and understood the privilege of performing for you, all through the years.

I am so sorry my comments have been directly hurtful to many of you. You must have felt a huge shock, blindsided by this so abruptly. I understand fixed views are not helpful but I really hope people can understand my concern was out of love for all of us.

I will now bow out of this conversation within the public domain. I’m not in the slightest bit interested in turning it into ANY kind of ‘campaign’, because campaigning is not what I do. Though I completely understand that for others activism is their true calling, and is necessary and legitimate in a democracy. My true calling is music and music will never exclude any of us, I believe it will always be one of the greatest tools we can use to create a culture of tolerance. Thank you for taking the trouble to read this.
I’m Gone Fishing.

Sincerely, Róisín ❤️