Irish music legend and activist Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56, her family has announced.
Family members wrote in a statement on Wednesday (26 July): “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad.
“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
Best known for her 1990 single Nothing Compares 2 U, which shot to number one worldwide upon release, the Dublin singer also won a number of awards for her album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.
She was outspoken in her social and political views, which involved campaigning against child abuse, supporting anti-racist movements and fighting for women’s rights.
Most notable was her defiant act of ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II during a live performance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 after sex abuse scandals against the Catholic Church began to arise.
When asked whether the act of condemnation had defined her career, she said: “Yes, in a beautiful f**king way.
“There was no doubt about who this b***h is. There was no more mistaking this woman for a pop star,” she continued. “People say, ‘Oh, you f**ked up your career’ but they’re talking about the career they had in mind for me.”
