Glastonbury performer asks BBC to remove footage after being flooded with ‘personal abuse’ 

A Glastonbury artist has urged the BBC to remove footage from her set after she was hit by a spate of online ‘personal abuse’.

Singer-songwriter Billy Nomates, real name Tor Maries, performed at Worthy Farm’s Park Stage on Friday afternoon.

But after clips of the 33-year-old musician’s performance were later shared on BBC Radio 6’s social media channels, she faced a number of offensive comments from online trolls.

She took to her Instagram Stories, before later deleting her entire profile, made a public plea for the station to remove the footage and said she will no longer be performing after fulfilling her scheduled dates for this summer.

She insisted: “The level of personal abuse on @bbc6muic socials for going to work today is insane.

‘I have asked for all images to be removed.

“I know it’s not for everyone what I do. I know a lot of people don’t judge me. But the level of personal abuse on the public page is too high.

‘after this summer there are no more shows. You wouldn’t stay in a workplace that did this to you. Why would I.’

The singer went on stage solo and performed without a band, which seems to have been the focus of criticism online.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We want 6 Music to be a place where brilliant artists like Billy Nomates are celebrated and supported, and we have respected Tor’s request that the clip be removed from our social channels.

”

Currently, the set is still available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Following her post, the artist was flooded with support from fellow musicians and fans.

Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who was involved in organizing Glastonbury’s Left Field marquee, tweeted highly of the talented star.

Performance: The singer-songwriter performed at Worthy Farm’s Park Stage on Friday afternoon

Harsh: But after clips of the 33-year-old musician’s performance were later shared on BBC Radio 6’s social media channels, she faced a number of insulting comments from online trolls

He wrote on Twitter: ‘Solidarity from everyone at Left Field with Billy No Mates who was so badly assaulted online after her @glastonbury set was posted to @BBC6Music she asked them to remove the clip,’ the ‘New England’ artist wrote .

“She played a set for us last year and was brilliant.

You always have a place here, Tor.

‘

While producer The Anchoress added: “Glastonbury should have been a career highlight for the fantastic Billy Nomates, but instead a toxic and misogynistic online culture is ruining everything and she has asked them to remove footage from her incredible set.”

And we wonder why we don’t have female headliners…

Radio DJ Edith Bowman also wrote: ‘I love @_billy_nomates, a huge talent and stands out for being true to herself.. great Glasto set.. xx’

“Billy Nomates (Tor Maries) is one of our very best artists – someone who deserves a Mercury Prize nomination for CACTI next month,” wrote music journalist Sam Liddicott. Her performance was fantastic!

Plea: She took to her Instagram Stories, before later deleting her entire profile, made a public plea for the station to remove the footage and said she will no longer be performing after fulfilling her already scheduled dates this summer

Support: Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who was involved in organizing Glastonbury’s Left Field marquee, reiterated his support of the star

“Too angry to write… but it is clear that misogyny and sexism are widespread. Something has to change now.’

Comedian and writer Robin Ince commented, “I hope Billy Nomates saw all the people praising her this morning – when you give it your all and then see people mocking or rejecting it can utterly break you – but it seems there’s also a tremendous amount of love comes out. there for her – rightly so.’

Critics tend to describe Billy Nomates’ music style as post-punk, with the artist describing himself as a ‘no-waver’.

In response to punk rock’s recycling of rock and roll clichés, no wave musicians instead experiment with noise, dissonance and atonality.

In 2020, BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Amy Lamé selected Nomates’ self-titled debut album as Album of the Year.