Pop star CMAT responds to fat shaming trolls

Pop star CMAT has responded to people who trolled a video of her performing at BBC Big Weekend by leaving fat-shaming remarks, forcing the broadcaster to turn off comments. 

She was referring to a clip released by BBC Radio 1’s Instagram page, in which the Irish singer, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, 28, was filmed ripping off her shirt to reveal a tighter outfit underneath during her set on Sunday afternoon.

The video featured the caption: ‘The stage presence is unmatched,’ and has more than 9,500 likes on the platform since being posted. 

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, she said: ‘Yesterday the BBC had to turn comments off a video of me performing at big weekend because so many people were calling me fat in the comments. 

‘Today a different video of me at the BRIT awards is going viral on South American TikTok and now people are calling me fat in Spanish’. 

She continued: ‘I didn’t realise it was ILLEGAL to have a HUGE ASS!!!! I am GUILTY as CHARGED it is time to lock me up and throw away THE KEY!!!!! 

‘By the way I am an award winning songwriter that has released two albums which were received to ‘universal acclaim’.

The incident involving CMAT is not the first time the BBC has had to keep a close eye on comments related to clips from various music festivals.

Last summer, BBC 6 Music deleted a video of vocalist Billy NoMates performing at Glastonbury – after the artist came in for heavy criticism from viewers.

Addressing the issue at the time, the singer wrote on Instagram: ‘The level of personal abuse on BBC 6 Music socials for goin[g] to work today is insane’

‘I’ve asked for all footage to be removed.’ ‘I know it’s not for everyone what I do. 

‘I know lots of people don’t rate me. But the level of personal abuse on that public page is too much.’

The musician, whose real name is Tor Maries, 34, received messages of support from other music artists, including Billy Bragg, who criticised the sexist and misogynist nature of the comments.

In an attempt to avoid a repeat of that incident, 6 Music recently launched an initiative named Change The Tune – which is aimed at combatting online abuse and included a ‘code of conduct’ for people commenting on its social media pages.

The guidelines discourages users from posting are not fans of a particular artist’s music and includes a no-tolerance policy for discrimination based on disability, gender, race, religion, or sexuality.

CMAT’s latest response comes after she cheekily flashed her bottom in a very low-cut black dress on TV at the Brit Awards 2024.

Later on in the night she made sure to stand behind host Maya Jama as she spoke on camera – so that she was in the shot with her bottom on display.

Fans went wild over the confident move with their responses on X, exclaiming: ‘CMAT AHHAHAHAHAHA CANT TAKE HER ANYWHERE.’

‘CMAT AHAHAHHAHAHA SHES SO UNSERIOUS.’ 

‘CMAT doing this every single time the camera lands on her is A) gas and B) the best possible thing you could do as an Irish person at the BRITS.’

But the singer made sure the amount of bum crack on show was the same as the average amount of breast cleavage, which is seen as acceptable, 

She pointed out that the models and others have worn similar ‘bumster’ outfits before.

She said: ‘I think mine caused a stir because it’s big and because I’m a size 14 as opposed to a size six, which is commonly what you do see on television especially when it comes to musicians and pop stars.

‘I had a lot of people that were very angry that I would do such a thing. They were horrified, and people were really angry and aggressive in comments, telling me I had to go to the gym. The backlash was crazy.’

Speaking to 6 Music, she added: ‘Loads of people in the comments are like, ‘She’s attention seeking! She’s an attention seeker!’ So? Yeah, that’s my job!’