The Year of Scandal, Part 2: Sinéad O’Connor Takes on the Pope

01/04/23 • 47 min

After scoring a No. 1 smash with her version of the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” and winning Video of the Year at MTV’s VMAs, Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor became an international sensation. While her look—a shaved head and dazzling, doe-like eyes—was arresting, her vocals were next-level.

But she never wanted to be a pop star. She had a punk sensibility, railing against sexism and exploitation and refusing to let label execs control her. In October 1992, O’Connor concluded her performance on Saturday Night Live by ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II to protest the Catholic Church concealing acts of child abuse. The incident sparked intense backlash, with radio stations refusing to play her music and audiences boycotting her. One single gesture torpedoed her career.

In this episode, we examine the events leading up to the SNL scandal, its damaging consequences, O’Connor’s complicated relationship with fame, and how many of her critics realized years later that she was right all along.

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01/04/23 • 47 min

Where Were You in '92? - The Year of Scandal, Part 2: Sinéad O’Connor Takes on the Pope

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:00.160

Where Were You In ninety two is a production of I Heart Radio. A special note this episode contains themes of physical and sexual abuse. It may not be suitable for all listeners. She looked like someone who was growing into battle. Never has said looked as much like you know what I imagined Joan of Arc looking like you know She knew exactly what she intended to do. Did she know what the ramifications were? No, but she definitely knew what she wan

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