Sinéad O’Connor’s estate has spoken out after Donald Trump used the late singer's music at his political rallies.
The acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter, who was well known for her fierce activism, sadly passed away at the age of 56 on July 26, her family announced.
During her career, O'Connor released ten studio albums that deeply resonated with her fans worldwide, the second of which, 1990’s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, sold more than seven million copies. She also topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts with her singles and was named Artist of the Year by Rolling Stone in 1991.
The late musician's estate and record label Chrysalis Records has now demanded the former US president "desist from using her music immediately" after he played her 1990 rendition of Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' at his most recent political events in North Carolina and Maryland.
Addressing the 2024 Republican Party frontrunner, the estate wrote in a scathing statement: "Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings," as cited by The Guardian.
"It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies," they continued.
They wrote that O'Connor would have been "disgusted, hurt, and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a 'biblical devil,'" adding: "As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump and his associates desist from using her music immediately."
The 'Drink Before The War' singer was no stranger to making big statements throughout her life, including the famous Saturday Night Live appearance where she ripped up an image of Pope John Paul II while uttering the word "evil".
She was fiercely outspoken against the Catholic Church and an activist for political causes and women’s rights. She had also been open about her struggles with mental health.
The late hitmaker tragically died from natural causes as revealed by Southwark Coroners Court. According to The Mirror, Southwark Coroners Court said: "The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death. If an inquest is to be opened, the date of the brief public hearing will be provided on our website."
At the time of her passing, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address in the SE24 area. Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A file will be prepared for the Coroner."