Irish singer CMAT has expressed gratitude to Olivia Rodrigo for covering her song, saying the gesture helped lift her spirits during a depressive episode triggered by a 'quasi-organised online attack' over her appearance.
In May, both musicians faced trolling campaigns: Rodrigo was criticised for wearing babydoll dresses, while CMAT was body-shamed after her performance at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend. Rodrigo, 23, covered CMAT's 'When A Good Man Cries' in Radio 1's Live Lounge on 3 June, declaring herself a big fan.
CMAT, 30, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, responded on Substack, describing the cover as a 'gift' that came at a crucial time. She wrote: 'Imagine me waking up in my bed in a t-shirt I’d worn for almost 4 days in a row (depression) and then 10 minutes later hearing Olivia’s cover go out on Radio 1.'
She added that the online abuse affected her ahead of her biggest headline show in Dublin on 30 May, leaving her concerned about her weight and performance ability. 'Then this gift landed in my lap. Thank F***,' she wrote.
CMAT praised Rodrigo's rendition as 'just so considered and exquisitely done', saying: 'Thank you Olivia Rodrigo for making me feel like the prettiest songwriter at the school disco.' Both artists have previously hit back at their trolls, with Rodrigo linking the backlash to normalising paedophilia and CMAT expressing sadness over body scrutiny.
