Róisín Murphy is a truer Irish rebel than Kneecap will ever be
Róisín Murphy has been criticized for expressing concerns about puberty blockers, leading to backlash from some media outlets, while the band Kneecap has received praise despite their controversial associations with extremist groups. The article argues that Murphy's defense of artistic freedom and women's rights has been ignored by mainstream outlets, which instead celebrate Kneecap's provocative political messaging. This contrast highlights what the author sees as a double standard in how rebellion and morality are judged within the cultural establishment.
- ▪Róisín Murphy faced cancellation after voicing misgivings about administering puberty blockers to children.
- ▪Kneecap has been praised by outlets like the Guardian despite expressing support for Hamas and posing with a book by Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah.
- ▪Murphy's speech at the parliamentary launch of 'The New Boycott Crisis' report emphasized the dangers to artistic freedom and was largely ignored by major Irish and UK media.
- ▪The article accuses the liberal press of hypocrisy for celebrating Kneecap's anti-Israel rhetoric while condemning Murphy's stance on medical ethics.
- ▪RTÉ and other mainstream outlets lauded Kneecap's 'Fenian' album for its rebellious image, despite its controversial political content.
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Róisín Murphy is a truer Irish rebel than Kneecap will ever be Why her heartfelt defence of artistic freedom and women’s rights has rattled the cultural establishment. i Picture by: Getty. dataLayer.push({ event: 'author', author: "Brendan O'Neill" }) Brendan O'Neill chief political writer 4th May 2026 i Picture by: Getty. Share Topics Culture Identity Politics Politics UK Want unlimited, ad-free access? Become a spiked supporter. It’s amazing what is considered a moral stain these days. When Róisín Murphy released her sublime album, Hit Parade, in 2023, a snotty hack at the Guardian called it a ‘masterful album with an ugly stain’. That ‘stain’ was Murphy’s expression of misgivings about pumping ‘mixed-up kids’ with puberty blockers.
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