Irish vocalist Sinéad O’Connor, renowned for her captivating voice, passed away at the age of 56, as confirmed by her family in a statement on Wednesday. Her rise to fame in 1990 was largely attributed to her remarkable rendition of Prince’s iconic track, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” This cover not only earned her three Grammy nominations but also catapulted her to the forefront of the pop music scene.
Her powerful and emotive performances left a lasting impact on the music industry and touched the hearts of countless fans worldwide. However, one of the most unforgettable public moments she had was during her performance on Saturday Night Live in the autumn of 1992.
Sinéad O’Connor was egged after she ripped a picture of Pope John Paul II on ‘Saturday Night Live’
After the release of her third album, Am I Not Your Girl?, O’Connor appeared as the musical guest on the October 3rd episode of Saturday Night Live. During her performance, she delivered a powerful acapella rendition of Bob Marley’s protest song, “War.” However, it was the conclusion of her act that left an indelible mark on viewers as she tore a photo of Pope John Paul II and made a statement urging people to “Fight the real enemy.”
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In her book Rememberings, O’Connor revealed that her display led to a series of backlash, including two men who egged her as she left the venue. “Total stunned silence in the audience, and when I walk backstage, literally not a human being is in sight. All doors have closed. Everyone has vanished. Including my own manager, who locks himself in his room for three days and unplugs his phone,” she wrote in the book. “Outside 30 Rock, two young men are waiting for me and they throw a load of eggs at us both.”
Sinéad O’Connor says she pursued the young men who threw eggs at her
The late singer stated that she and her personal assistant, Ciara ran after and caught the two men who had thrown eggs at them. “But what they don’t know is myself and Ciara are able to run a hundred meters in 11.3 seconds. So we run after them when they flee. We catch up with them in some alley,” O’Connor wrote. “They are leaning, gasping for breath, against a black fence they didn’t have the strength to climb.”
O’Connor further disclosed that the confrontation ended on good terms as she managed to find resolution and reconciliation with those involved, “All we say, laughing at them, is ‘Hey, don’t be throwing eggs at women,’” she continued. “The two of them are so shocked at being chased and caught that they start laughing too, and it all ends very friendly,” she wrote. “They straighten up and help us find a cab back to the hotel.”