Irish singer-songwriter Cmat has spoken out against persistent online body shaming following her performance at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Sunderland.
The 30-year-old artist, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, shared a lengthy Instagram statement on Friday, May 29, 2026, addressing the abuse.
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She explained that the massive online discourse forced her to respond publicly, despite having deleted social media apps for her mental health.
"I have had insta/tiktok/twitter deleted from my phone for some time now for the preservation of my mental health, but the discourse this week appears to be so large that it has still gotten back to me," she wrote.
Cmat said her career milestones are being overshadowed by the abuse, and shared a Substack article to illustrate her feelings.
Emotional Toll of Public Scrutiny
Thompson clarified that her physical appearance is not a deliberate political statement, but a reality she must navigate amid constant scrutiny.
"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 wrote.
She noted that the pressure to conform remains a persistent burden despite her professional gratitude.
"There is no relief from this – nobody can protect me or save me from this, and all that is demanded of me is more and more work as every environment I am placed in becomes more hostile," she added.
Thompson highlighted the lack of personal choice she experiences when dealing with public criticism.
"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 wrote.
The singer concluded her message by expressing how weight standards negatively impact her achievements.
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"The feeling of seeing all your dreams come true after so many years of constant grinding towards them… chefs kiss.
But the success is increasingly becoming tarnished by the fact that I would be allowed to enjoy it so much more if I was thin," she wrote.
Support from Fellow Artists and BBC
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor led the wave of fan support, admitting her own naive assumptions about industry progress.
"But I also feel a fool as I see you being so glorious and wonderful and I didn't understand how little things have changed.
I actually thought things were better now," Ellis-Bextor wrote.
The incident follows major accolades for Thompson, whose third album Euro-Country won best album at the Ivor Novello Awards after a previous Mercury Prize nomination.
During her Big Weekend debut two years prior, Thompson recalled that the BBC had to moderate social media responses due to weight-related abuse.
"I didn't realise it was illegal to have a huge ass!" she joked at the time.
BBC Radio 1 issued a formal statement condemning the online abuse and confirming they have disabled social media comments on posts featuring the artist.
"We fully support Cmat and condemn any toxic commentary aimed at her," the broadcaster stated.
They praised her live set and confirmed that their team remains in direct contact with Thompson to offer assistance.
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"She performed a phenomenal set at Radio 1's Big Weekend, which received an amazing reaction from the crowd in Sunderland and from those who've enjoyed it on iPlayer and Sounds," they added.
