From the Times:
Róisín Murphy has warned against “confused young people” making themselves “social media enforcers” as she spoke for the first time about being “cancelled” for her views on puberty blockers.
The Irish singer, 52, faced a public backlash when in August 2023 she criticised the prescription of puberty blockers to children who expressed confusion about their gender.
Writing on her private Facebook page at the time, Murphy said: “Puberty blockers are f***ed, absolutely desolate, Big Pharma laughing all the way to the bank. Little mixed-up kids are vulnerable and need to be protected, that’s just true.”
The prescribing to under-18s of puberty-blocking drugs has since been banned by the government. But at the time Murphy’s leaked comments attracted an angry response on social media and even led to claims she had been dropped from the BBC Radio 6 programming schedule, which the station denied.…
Giving a speech on Monday at a parliamentary event to raise awareness of the rise of cancel culture in the arts, she said: “When artists speak plainly these days, especially on radioactive issues, they don’t get debate.
“They get condemnation and professional exile. I’ve lived it when I spoke my mind about puberty blockers and current social trends around gender.
“I watched the machinery kick in fast. Pressure to recant, threats to pull promotion, leads to the press, venues dropping bookings, colleagues stepping back. The message was clear — conform or risk your livelihood.
“I fought for my work. I took back ownership of my music. But the wider chill remains.”…
She was speaking at the launch of a report entitled “The New Boycott Crisis”, written by Rosie Kay, from the campaign group Freedom in the Arts, and Professor Jo Phoenix.
According to the report, Jewish artists have faced a “wave of boycotts” after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza, while artists expressing critical views on transgender issues have experienced a similar exclusion.
Murphy warned in her speech that this culture of “cancellation” was increasingly leading artists to self-censor.
We heard about the problems for Jewish artists yesterday.
Added:
Mick Hartley 
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