Joy Crookes, the British singer-songwriter, has issued a stark warning that the UK and Ireland are entering a period of unprecedented darkness due to the resurgence of far-right ideology in mainstream politics. The 30-year-old artist, who has recently performed two sold-out shows at Brixton's O2 Academy, likened the current situation to the 1970s when the National Front was at its peak.
During her performances, Crookes played a cover of Sinéad O'Connor's anti-racism anthem "Black Boys on Mopeds," which has become an iconic protest song against police violence and racism. When asked about introducing the song on stage, Crookes stated, "I don't want to sing this song, but 35 years ago, Sinead wrote this and it's still relevant and I feel like it's probably necessary."
Crookes' concerns are deeply personal, as she has Irish and Bangladeshi heritage. She revealed that driving around Dublin with her cousins had exposed her to the alarming rise of nationalist, anti-immigrant flags, which have become a symbol of far-right ideology in Ireland.
The singer's fears were further underscored when she recalled the experience of shooting her debut acting role in Luton, where rumors of a Tommy Robinson rally sent shockwaves through the mostly black and brown crew and cast. They became worried about their safety due to concerns over mass protests and potential clashes with far-right groups.
Crookes' comments have sparked an important debate about the need for solidarity between communities directly affected by far-right rhetoric. She emphasized that musicians, in particular, have a responsibility to use their platforms to speak out against racism and intolerance. While acknowledging that her peers are willing to discuss issues like Palestine, they seem hesitant to address the "big R word" when it comes to racism.
Crookes' statements underscore the gravity of the situation in the UK and Ireland, where far-right ideology is gaining traction. Her message serves as a reminder that we must come together to resist this resurgence of extremism and protect our shared values of equality, justice, and human rights.
During her performances, Crookes played a cover of Sinéad O'Connor's anti-racism anthem "Black Boys on Mopeds," which has become an iconic protest song against police violence and racism. When asked about introducing the song on stage, Crookes stated, "I don't want to sing this song, but 35 years ago, Sinead wrote this and it's still relevant and I feel like it's probably necessary."
Crookes' concerns are deeply personal, as she has Irish and Bangladeshi heritage. She revealed that driving around Dublin with her cousins had exposed her to the alarming rise of nationalist, anti-immigrant flags, which have become a symbol of far-right ideology in Ireland.
The singer's fears were further underscored when she recalled the experience of shooting her debut acting role in Luton, where rumors of a Tommy Robinson rally sent shockwaves through the mostly black and brown crew and cast. They became worried about their safety due to concerns over mass protests and potential clashes with far-right groups.
Crookes' comments have sparked an important debate about the need for solidarity between communities directly affected by far-right rhetoric. She emphasized that musicians, in particular, have a responsibility to use their platforms to speak out against racism and intolerance. While acknowledging that her peers are willing to discuss issues like Palestine, they seem hesitant to address the "big R word" when it comes to racism.
Crookes' statements underscore the gravity of the situation in the UK and Ireland, where far-right ideology is gaining traction. Her message serves as a reminder that we must come together to resist this resurgence of extremism and protect our shared values of equality, justice, and human rights.
I'm really worried about what's happening with far-right groups in the UK and Ireland. It's like they're trying to erase all the progress we made back in the 70s. The fact that Joy Crookes is speaking out about it now is a reminder that racism and intolerance are still very much alive and kicking 
. We need more people like her who are willing to use their platforms to speak truth to power 
. It's not just about musicians, though - anyone with a voice can make a difference 
.
... I mean, I get why Joy Crookes is warning us about the resurgence of far-right ideology in mainstream politics - it's super scary! But at the same time, I think she's being kinda dramatic about it... I mean, have you seen the state of the world lately? We've got more pressing issues to worry about, like climate change and whatnot 
. And let's be real, if we start worrying too much about racism, people are gonna get all anxious and stuff 
... But on the other hand, I do think Joy has a point that musicians have a responsibility to use their platforms to speak out against racism and intolerance. Like, who better to inspire change than artists, right? 
...
I've been saying it for ages, but you can't ignore the elephant in the room. Far-right ideology is not just some fringe thing, it's a real and growing threat to communities everywhere 
. I mean, Joy Crookes isn't wrong when she says it feels like we're back in the 70s with the National Front and all that. It's time for people to stop being so scared to talk about racism 
. Like, musicians are always happy to use their platforms to speak out against stuff they disagree with, but when it comes to racism, suddenly they're all like "oh no, I don't want to offend anyone". Give me a break 
.
. It's time we stopped being afraid to have the conversation about racism and started taking action 
Crookes is totally right, the UK's got a serious problem with far-right ideology. 28% of British people identify as nationalist in the latest YouGov poll 
which is a huge jump from 2019. And it's not just Ireland, Dublin's seen a surge in far-right demos too 
The stats are scary - between 2016-2020, racist hate crimes in the UK increased by 50% 
It's time for us to have some real conversations about systemic racism and inequality. We need more people like Crookes using their platforms to raise awareness 
. 
. It's not just about racism; it's about the erosion of our collective humanity. 
. It's time for us to get real and come together as communities to resist this extremism and protect our shared values of equality, justice, and human rights 
. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to take a stand against far-right ideology and build a society where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected 
.
this is super concerning, been noticing it too on socials and news, like what's happening in uk & ireland its getting so scary, 35 yrs ago sinéad wrote that song for a reason 
. We need more voices like Joy Crookes speaking out against racism and promoting unity 
!
she performed this sick song "black boys on mopeds" which is literally an iconic protest song and it's still so relevant today u feel me? 
her message is so important right now and i'm grateful for her bravery 
And now it's getting played in sold-out shows again because the world hasn't changed much since then... sadly. It's not just about Joy Crookes being scared; it's about people waking up and recognizing the danger signs. Fingers crossed we can have a decent chat about this without, you know, actual violence 
crookes is right tho, we gotta use our platforms 2 speak out against racism & intolerance especially musicians who got a bigger platform than most ppl 
lets get behind joy & her message of unity & equality 
but seriously though crookes is right on point here - that cover she played in brixton? it's not just a song, it's a warning sign. and it's not just ireland or the UK either, this is happening all over europe. i've seen videos of far-right rallies in germany and france too... 
. AS SOMEONE WITH BANGLADESI AND IRISH HERITAGE, IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME TOO. WE CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND AND WATCH THIS EXTREMISM TAKE OVER - WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND FIGHT AGAINST RACISM AND INTOLERANCE