Introduction to Cmat
Cmat, the 29-year-old Irish singer, has opened up about the abuse she still faces after writing a single in response to being fat-shamed at a festival last year. In an interview with BBC News at Glastonbury, she shared her experiences and the impact it has had on her life.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The singer, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, spoke after her Friday afternoon performance on the Pyramid stage, which left the festival crowd in awe of her powerful vocals and stage presence. A large number of fans also danced to her single, "A Sexy Picture of Me," which was written in response to the fat-shaming incident last year and went viral on TikTok.
Online Abuse and Its Effects
Before performing the song, Cmat thought about the abuse she received last year. "A lot of people would come to me on my phone, and the comment section was full of very bad comments on my physical appearance," she said. Although she received some positive comments, the negative ones had a significant impact on her. After her set, she met with the press, where she was asked if online abuse was still something she faced. "Oh yes, every day, people leave terrible comments under my TikToks and posts," she said.
The Song and Its Message
The song, "A Sexy Picture of Me," is about the challenges of being a woman in the public eye and the pressure to be attractive. The track begins with Cmat singing about the fact that at the age of nine, she let her legs grow with adhesive tape, and how the pressure to be attractive means that "she has had a terrible time recently." However, the lyrics are contrasted with poppy hooks and a speaking solution when someone has "a sexy picture." Cmat stated that she had mixed feelings regarding the reaction to the song. "It’s only sad that so many people are so, yes, to be assigned to this song about aging from commercial attraction and the people who have coordinated me with my physical appearance," she said.
Performance and Reaction
Cmat’s appearance on the Pyramid stage made the fans laugh, dance, and cry as she performed a number of her hits. A few hours later, she said that she was still "shocked" by the reaction to her set. "It took my whole life to get to the Pyramid Stage," she said. The crowd’s energy was electric, and Cmat ended her set with an incredible moment, separating the crowd and hitting the fans with her powerful vocals. It was a moment that will be remembered, and it felt like we had just seen her career take off.
Conclusion
Cmat’s story is a reminder that online abuse and fat-shaming are still prevalent issues in today’s society. Despite the challenges she faces, Cmat continues to rise above and share her message with the world. Her performance at Glastonbury was a testament to her talent and dedication, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for this talented artist.
