Sinead O’connor’s open letter to Miley Cyrus about being ‘pimped’resurfaces

Sinead O’connor was known for her outspoken views on politics, women’s rights and the music industry in general.

In the days since her untimely death on Wednesday (26 July) at the age of 56, numerous stories from her past have resurfaced, such as her infamous 1992 SNL her long – term relationship with Madonna.

Find the latest updates after O’connor’s death here

Another that has taken on new life on social media this week was O’connor’s letter to Miley Cyrus in 2013, which she published on her website.

Following the release of her viral video clip for her hit single “Aporbrecking Ball”, Cyrus (then 20 years old) said Rolling Stone the magazine she was inspired by O’connor’s accompanying footage for “Nothing Compares 2 u” (1990).

In response, O’connor wrote to Cyrus “in maternal spirit and with love”.

She told the young artist that it wasn’t “cool” to be naked and lick Hammers in your videos and that she was actually being “pimped” by the music industry.

You can read the letter in full, below.

Dear Miley,

I was not going to write this letter, but today I have avoided phone calls from various newspapers who wished me to notice that you said in Rolling Stone your video “Pmbreking Ball” was created to be similar to the one for “Nothing Compares” … So that’s what I have to say … and it is said in the spirit of the mother and with love.

I am extremely concerned for you that those around you have made you believe, or encouraged you in your belief, that it is in any way ‘cool’ to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos. In fact it is the case that you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it’s the music business or yourself doing pimping.

Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited, and it is absolutely in no way an empowerment of yourself or any other young woman, for you to send the message that you should be appreciated (even by you) more for your sexual attraction than your obvious talent. I am happy to hear that I am somehow a role model for you and I hope that because of this you will pay close attention to what I am telling you.

The music business doesn’t give a s*** about you, or any of us. They will harass you for what you are worth, and they will make you think wisely about what you desire … and when you end up in rehab as a result of prostitution, ‘they’ will be sunbathing on their yachts in Antigua, which they bought by selling your body and you will find yourself very alone.

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None of the ogling men you give a s* * * to you or, do not be fooled. Many woman mistook lust for love. If they love you sexually it doesn’t mean they give a f*** about you. Even more true when you unwittingly give the impression that you don’t give a lot of f*** about yourself. And when you hire people who give the impression that they don’t give a lot of f*** about you either. No one who cares about you can support your pimped dog … and that includes you yourself.

I suggest you don’t take care of yourself. This has to change. You should be protected as a precious young lady by everyone in your employment and everyone around you, including you. This is a dangerous world. We don’t encourage our girls to walk naked in it because it makes them prey to animals and less than animals, most of whom worryingly work in the music industry and is media related.

You are worth more than your body or your sexual attraction. The world of sho8biz doesn’t see things that way, they like things to be seen on the other side, whether they want you on their cover or whatever … Don’t be under any illusions … all of them love you because they are making money from your youth and your beauty … which they couldn’t do other than the fact that your youth makes you blind to the evils of show business. If you have an innocent heart, you cannot know those who do not have it.

I repeat, you have enough talent that you don’t need to let the music business do a whore for you. You shouldn’t let them fool you either. Don’t think for a moment that any of them give a flying f*** about you. They’re there for the money… we are there for the music. It’s always been like this and always will be. The sooner a young lady knows this, the sooner she can really be in control.

You’ve also said in Rolling Stone your vision is based on mine. The look I chose, I chose on purpose at a time when my record company was encouraging me to do what you did. I felt that I would rather be judged by my talent and not by my appearance. I’m glad I made that choice, not least because I don’t find myself in the proverbial pile of rags now that I’m nearly 47 … that unfortunately many female artists who have based their image around their sexuality end up reaching middle age.

The real empowerment of yourself as a woman would be to in the future refuse to exploit your body or your sexuality in order for men to make money from you. I don’t even need to ask the question … I’ve been in business long enough to know that men are making more money than you are from you getting naked. It’s not cold at all. And sending dangerous signals to other young women. Please in the future say no when you are asked to prostitute yourself. Your body is for you and your loved one. It’s not for every spunk-speflix dirtbag on the net, or every greedy record company executive to buy his mistresses diamonds with.

As for the spill of the Hannah Montana image … anyone who tells you to undress is the way to do so does not absolutely respect your talent, or you as a young lady. Your data is good enough for you not to need any Hannah Montana spill. It is mamaaaaaay gone so far … not because you got naked, but because you make great records.

Whether we like it or not, we women in the industry are role models and as such we have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women. The message you keep sending is that it’s kind of cold to be prostituted … Miley is so cold … dangerous. Women should be valued for much more than their sexuality. We are not merely objects of desire. I would encourage you to send healthier messages to your peers … that they and you are worth more than what is currently happening in your career. Kindly shoot any motherfucker who hasn’t expressed alarm because they don’t care about you.