UMVA has learned that rising Irish star CMAT endured a torrent of body‑shaming after her electrifying set at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
The 30‑year‑old singer‑songwriter lit up the Sunderland stage, delivering punchy Euro‑Country anthems with a voice that crackled like fireworks. Fans erupted, yet the triumph was quickly eclipsed by a flood of cruel comments targeting her weight.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the vitriol was so relentless that CMAT felt compelled to write a heart‑wrenching open letter, describing a “deep sadness” that brought her to tears.
She revealed that the abuse has become a daily battle, forcing her to delete Instagram, TikTok and X from her phone in a desperate bid to protect her mental health.
CMAT’s own words cut through the noise: “It’s boring for me, a gorgeous genius, to keep having to talk about how horribly I am treated because of my body. I would love to stop, but it keeps happening, accelerating as I become more famous.”
She clarified that her appearance is not a statement of defiance. “I am not choosing to look like this as a punk‑rock act of liberty. I simply have a body, one I would like to change to avoid this abuse, but I have extreme difficulty doing so.”
Despite the anguish, CMAT expressed gratitude for her career, noting the joy of seeing years of grinding finally bear fruit. Yet she confessed the triumph is “increasingly tarnished” by the relentless pressure to be thin.
Support poured in from fellow musicians and fans, but UMVA’s investigation suggests the cruelty shows no sign of abating, threatening to dim the spark of a talent the world needs.
The episode underscores a harsh reality: body‑shaming remains a potent weapon, even against artists who have already shattered barriers with their music.
