Irish singer-songwriter CMAT, born Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, has publicly addressed the escalating online body-shaming she faced following her performance at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Sunderland on May 24, 2026. (theguardian.com)
In a candid Instagram post on May 28, CMAT expressed her frustration over the persistent abuse, stating, "It is literally so boring for me, a gorgeous genius, to keep having to yap on about how horribly I am treated because of my body." She highlighted the increasing hostility as her fame grows, noting, "I would love to stop but I cannot because it keeps happening, at an accelerating and worsening pace as I become more famous." (theguardian.com)
CMAT shared screenshots from a Substack essay by a music fan known as Front Row Feels, which compared the treatment of CMAT to fellow Big Weekend performers Zara Larsson and Olivia Dean. The essay pointed out the stark contrast in online reactions, with Larsson and Dean receiving more favorable comments, while CMAT faced harsh criticism about her appearance. (theguardian.com)
Addressing well-meaning supporters, CMAT clarified that her body size is not a choice or a statement: "I am not being defiant. I am not choosing to look like this or weigh this much as some kind of punk rock act of liberty. I simply have a body, one that I would of course like to change in order to fit in and avoid all of this abuse, but I have had extreme difficulty in doing so." She lamented that her success is "increasingly becoming tarnished by the fact that I would be allowed to enjoy it so much more if I was thin." (theguardian.com)
CMAT's response has ignited a broader conversation about body image and the treatment of artists in the public eye. Fans and fellow musicians have rallied in support, condemning the online abuse and advocating for a more inclusive and respectful discourse within the music industry.