Folk singer Michelle Shocked, who stunned a San Francisco audience on Sunday night after breaking into an anti-gay rant in which she said, “God hates faggots,” only to see the remaining dates of her U.S. tour cancelled, has now issued two rambling statements in which she distances herself from the tirade that has brought her widespread criticism from the LGBT community and allies.
Michelle Shocked
During a performance at live-music venue Yoshi’s San Francisco on Sunday night, Shocked asked the audience, “If someone would be so gracious as to please tweet out, ‘Michelle Shocked just said from stage, God hates faggots.’ Would you do it now?”
In an “open letter” distributed by her publicist late Tuesday, Shocked issued a measured apology, saying, “to those fans who are disappointed by what they’ve heard or think I said, I’m very sorry.”
I do not, nor have I ever, said or believed that God hates homosexuals (or anyone else). I said that some of His followers believe that. I believe intolerance comes from fear, and these folks are genuinely scared. When I said “Twitter that Michelle Shocked says “God hates faggots,” I was predicting the absurd way my description of, my apology for, the intolerant would no doubt be misinterpreted. The show was all music, and the audience tweets said they enjoyed it. The commentary came about ten minutes later, in the encore.
And to those fans who are disappointed by what they’ve heard or think I said, I’m very sorry: I don’t always express myself as clearly as I should. But don’t believe everything you read on facebook or twitter. My view of homosexuality has changed not one iota. I judge not. And my statement equating repeal of Prop 8 with the coming of the End Times was neither literal nor ironic: it was a description of how some folks – not me – feel about gay marriage.
The show, and the rant, was spontaneous. As for those applauding my so-called stance that “God Hates Faggots,” I say they should be met with mercy, not hate. And I hope that what remains of my audience will meet that intolerance with understanding, even of those who might hate them.
Folks wonder about my sexuality, but denying being gay is like saying I never beat my husband. My sexuality is not at issue. What is being questioned is my support for the LGBT community, and that has never wavered. Music and activism have always been part of my work and my journey, which I hope and intend to continue. I’d like to say this was a publicity stunt, but I’m really not that clever, and I’m definitely not that cynical.
But I am damn sorry. If I could repeat the evening, I would make a clearer distinction between a set of beliefs I abhor, and my human sympathy for the folks who hold them. I say this not because I want to look better. I have no wish to hide my faults, and – clearly – I couldn’t if I tried.
With love,
Michelle
That statement was followed by a second:
I believe in a God who loves everyone, and my faith tells me to do my best to also love everyone. Everyone: gay or straight, stridently gay, self-righteously faithful; left or right, far left, far right; good, bad, or indifferent. That’s the law: everyone.
I may disagree with someone’s most fervently held belief, but I will not hate them. And in this controversy, that means speaking for Christians with opinions I in no way share about homosexuality. Will I endorse them? Never. Will I disavow them? Never.
I stand accused of forsaking the LGBT community for a Christianity which is – hear me now – anathema to my understanding of faith. I will no doubt take future flack for saying so. I’m accused of believing that “God hates fags” and that the repeal of Prop 8 will usher in the End Times. Well, if I caused such an absurdity, I am damn sorry. To be clear: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of any so-called faith preaching intolerance of anyone. Again, anyone: straight or gay, believers or not: that’s the law.
That means upholding my punk rock values in the most evangelical enclaves and, in this case, speaking up for the most fearful of fundamentalists in, well, a San Francisco music hall full of Michelle Shocked fans.
As an artist in this time of unbearable culture wars, I understand: this means trouble, and this is neither the first nor last time trouble has come my way. And that’s fine by me.
I know the fear many in the evangelical community feel about homosexual marriage, as I understand the fear many in the gay community feel toward the self-appointed faithful. I have and will continue speaking to both. Everything else – facebook, twitter, whatever – is commentary.
Fall out since Shocked’s performance was swift. In the 48 hours that followed, ten of the eleven venues remaining on Shocked’s U.S. tour cancelled her performance, citing the San Francisco incident. The remaining venue said Shocked herself cancelled that performance.
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You have to be much clearer when you say hateful things for “irony.” It’s all tone that determines whether people will realize you’re mocking homophobes or if you’re actually homophobic.
My guess is she needs to work on her tone, her delivery, or leave irony to actual comedians.
Cupid stunt.
Now she can close that BIG mouth. Nobody wants to hear what comes out of it.
lol. bitch please.
Honestly I can not help but view this as an extreamly positive moment for LGBT. Not to long ago nothing would have happened, or even pro LGBT may have caused the same reaction as this anit-gay rant. True success in just a couple decades :D
I don’t believe her.
she tried..
she is a lier…a fake…dont believe anything that spews from her pie hole
sometimes its best to keep your damn mouth shut :)
I’m so glad that 10 out of 11 of her upcoming venues cancelled her shows though. Good on them.
Too little too late.
Can’t tell if she’s apologizing because her tour was cancelled…or if because she’s actually sorry.
serves her right, and to try to retract just to get the shows back on? distasteful. be ashamed Shocked, be ashamed
Too little, too late, too lyin’.
her 15 minutes of fame are done. roll her up and toss her away.
Well, that seems clear enough, but what took her so long?
I’m very sorry: I don’t always express myself as clearly as I should’… She’s a singer/songwriter.
Not buying it. And I do not want her “mercy”. She can shut up and go away now.
Epic Fail
WTF How you gonna distance yourself, the words came outta your own mouth?!
Now she’s trying to save face. As do all ‘celebrities’ that bash LGBT or a race. Nothing new.
Go away bigot
she looks butch
idiot !!!
Better to be silent and thought the fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
I guess her next career move is to sell her CDs directly through Chick-Fil-A
Just my opinion but that apology is to little to late and only half hearted.
Ya.. money made her change her story.
Whatever.
Now now people, I believe there’s truth to her statement. I’m not in to her brand of music,.but I think media doesn’t always give a clear perception of events. I think she’s a bit cray, but if you look at her work with organizations, she’s done a lot. Just saying that people should get facts, and here her out.
Maybe she needs a therapist. Sounds like she’s having a breakdown.
she needs medication
I don’t believe her one bit. she’s just pissed ’cause her shows were cancelled. she just wants the money she screwed herself out of.
My guess is that she’s manic. She seemed to have meant what she said at the time, but not anymore, yet she could change her mind tomorrow. Poke a fork in her career. It’s done. Well, until she’s medicated and issues an authentic apology.
I’d love to hear ALL of what she said at that show.
Now, she’s sorry because they canceled the shows. Thick skin.
Oh, and equating being gay to spousal abuse is terrible!!!
Such a silly woman!
Michelle – come out again, and embrace your sexuality. You are most confused woman I have ever seen, all because you believe in a book that was written 2,000 – 6,000 years ago. Follow Christ is you want to – that is a noble road, filled with love and acceptance. You can start by accepting yourself. God made you gay, and that DOES matter, because you are not flawed for it…
There was no misinterpreting her statements. This is a hollow apology, prompted by the dwindling dollar signs of her ‘career’ club dates swirling down the drain, and quite possibly mandated by her manager.
oh ok..whatever..the damage is done..good ole PR at work to save her career and dollars i see..true epic fail
Dafuq did I just read?
I’m not really sure how you can misjudge the things she said. Sounds like she did alot of running around the bush to try and save what career she has left. This isn’t an apology to me, it isn’t her taking responsibility for what she said and how many people she hurt and affected by this.. it’s a lame excuse because she’s feeling the affects of her actions. Nothing more. Michelle, as I stated in my letter to you… I really hope your eyes and ears are opened to the TRUE truth and not some misinterpreted brainwashed version. I wish you the best of luck!
TOO LATE!
Funny thing is, I had never heard of her before. She issued the statements to try & regain her popularity. Why did she even go there with that song?
okay, well that dug the hole about 10 feet deeper. keep digging Michelle
i forgive her.
Sorry, too little too late. She should have never even brought up the subject. I agree with the above post from James Carroll that she’s manic (or something). Anyway, her career is dead.
She is clearly confused on a lot of things. Namely: who she is and more importantly … what city she was in when she said this. She apparently has a history of this crap
you should use your mouth to sing not to hate people!
Why is it one person who hear’s voices is concidered crazy, when a group of people hearing the same voices are concidered religious? Shakes head, hope you enjoyed your career while it lasted.
It’s a there a clear video of the incident or a 100% accurate transcript of her speech? Not from Twitter or facebook posted by regular morons, but something accurate? Her apology is strange but also explains her speech as nothing like what people on the internet said. U have no opinion until I know exactly what the speech was.
nope, her non apology distancing herself from what she said isn’t acceptable. Hope she fades into obscurity, because her 15 minutes of fame are over.
either this person is really dumb or mentally ill !!
shes a lying self loathing , spiritually confused and hateful closet lesbian . who really screwed up and is now trying to wipe up the diarrea that spewed out of her big mouth. too little too late. she has made the list among westboro and the rest of the homophobic pigs..
A folk singer performing in San Francisco – who did she think her audience was, a bunch of haters who agree with her? Not! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
Fucking coward. First you’re an ‘out’ militant lesbian, then you’re a fag-hating god-wad. Make up your mind and stand behind what you’re willing to say, publicly. We’re not buying the mealy-mouthed back-tracking from a TRAITOR!
You said the words, now own up to them and live with the consequences. Welcome to the wonderful world of irrelevancy.
I will agree with her on one thing she said. That she “isn’t that clever”. Obviously, who goes on an anti gay tirade in San Francisco??
What a whore.
I haven’t followed her over the past couple decades, but as I recall, thinking through the implications of everything she says was never her strong suite…and that’s precisely why folks loved Ms. Shocked. If this “rant” has been apologized for, and if it doesn’t represent the core of who she has been throughout her career…just move on.
I always thought she was a lesbian anyways. Her “explanations” are an incoherent mess. What in the heck is she trying to say?
Don’t you all really get tired of these asshats who think an apology will somehow undo what they’ve already said? Why do they even bother? Doesn’t hold any water with me at all. They meant what they said and after they get caught out they try to say they didn’t say it or it was misinterpreted. Personally, I think she’s a self-hating lesbian.
Hey thanks for clearing that up, Michelle!
Although I have many friends that are christian, Just saying that you are christian, is enough to make me leave a show. It’s kinda like saying you are the football captain at my high school. Chances are you are going to judge me and I’d rather leave than to hear what comes next.
She’s not denying that she is anti-gay marriage or anti-homosexuality. She’s saying “god doesn’t hate gay people” it’s that tired ass lame dick “love the sinner hate the sin” brand of phobe speak that makes me vomit.
How about the christians wait a hundred years for OUR acceptance.
How do you distance yourself from something you said
Phew, made it through reading the whole statement. God, that babble was a chore to get through. Such white noise. Sorry, bitch, you’re career’s still fucked.
So, when she realizes her own bigotry has doomed her career, she tells a pack of lies about how her comments were not what she meant, taken out of context, made up, etc. Fuck you, cunt. Your career is OVER.
She’s also a liar…
Michelle who? Yawn…
“The lady doth protest too much, me thinks.” :-)
Wow…back peddle much?
Two days ago I didn’t know who this was. Still haven’t started caring who this person is.
Back-pedaling her opinions when she realized she alienated most of her fan base doesn’t win back any points for me. She should at least have the integrity to stand for what she proclaimed to believe in. SMH
Back-pedaling is the worst thing. It’s like “oh no I never really meant it.” Uhmm, words don’t lie. I’d have a teeny tiny microscopic respect for her if she stood by it, rather than lie and pretend “it’s not what I meant.”
I want to know what she said
Too little too late! Suck it up, I’m sure your churches benches need someone to polish them!
damage control at its finest…
Reminds me of Sarah Palin back-pedaling from using the “N” word multiple times with a participant at a town-hall that led to her “don’t retreat, reload” excuse.
Stupid is as stupid does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyvHCkhL08A&feature=youtube_gdata_player
This is a news clip from San Fran….
Before I even read this, I’m going to assume this has something to do with evil twins. It has to. Thats the only way you could believably damage control something like this.
Who was that? And what did she say? Next!
To little to late, kiss goodbye to your career !
Her “apology” is laughably lame. I would actually respect her if she had stood behind what she said. If you believe that hateful shit and publicly admit to it, then at least have the balls to stick up for your beliefs! She’s a coward and a liar. Glad to see her bigotry is costing her a lot of money.
She should change her name from “Michelle Shocked” to “Barry Enema” cuz all that’s coming out of that mouth is Crap.
she screwed the pooch on this one!!
Issues….
Nope, I don’t buy it. Now she’s trying to backtrack after she watched her career implode. Well, she made her bed, now she has to lie in it.
distancing herself how lol? it’s a little late to say ‘Just kidding, guys!’
she still sounds crazy. fortunately, I’m not listening to her.
Tell that lezzie to SUCK IT!!!!
smacks of back-peddling to me….
You are that stupid! You had no clue as to the repercussions? You really have your head that far up your A not to realize what is going on in this world of ours? Too little too late. And if it was a marketing ploy to better your career after supposedly repenting…Good luck with that girl. You shot yourself in the foot and now you are a has been.
I disagree strongly with your outdated views. You are full of misguided hate. You have spoken your misguided views confidently to a public room in full control of your words. Writing two letters explaining your actions only shows panic. You are a coward and your words incite hate in narrow minded individuals. Promote love to all areas of society and not just LGBT.
too little too late!!!!!!
as far as I can tell she is a born again christian, in denial of her own lesbianism, the worst kind of gay, hates herself along w/her own kind.
fuck that bitch
perhaps joining the BOY SCOUTS might be better suiting, she’d fit right in – lmao
We don’t know how she sings but thought that she is doing it better than talking. We hope so…;)
Oh, she’s now backpedaling? huge surprise!
I’ll take a 9 pack of McNuggets, Michelle, with sweet and sour sauce.
i forgive her
Once a person says something hurtful about others, it’s hard to just take that back or to say sorry. Sometimes sorry isn’t good enough. That hater put a deep mark on many ppl not just one, so it’s gonna take more than a sorry or a make up. She needs to learn the facts of life, she needs to learn what love, respect, equal rights and who God truely is. Then she needs to put herself threw some serious counseling because she has shown that she really needs it.
Too late, biatch.
Not sure if there’s feeling there or just a cop-out…
People are such asses: anyone who has a mind to, defames and insults the gay community at will, then apologoze and/or says “I’m going into therapy….I didn’t mean it” Bullshit, you mean every hateful word you say,all of you haters. Well, fucking good for you, you need therapy. This isn’t good enough, not anymore. Besides, who is this bitch,anyway? I admit I’m a bit out of the loop sometimes, but I’ve never even heard of this mad woman.
Still have no idea who she is. lol
nobody cares… she was no one, and no one she remains
The lesson: Choose your words wisely.
Especially when you open your mouth in public, post to public place like Twitter and facebook. These “apologies” seem more like excuses to justify whatever she wants. How “punk rock” convenient.
God hates closet dykes that won’t get their teeth fixed. Oh I’m sorry, you just misunderstood what I typed! Forgiven?
she’s an idiot
10 of 11 of her next shows have been canceled and that is great! I wonder about the 11 th though, must be for a Tea Party get together.
Back Stroke! Now your going to be as broke as the rest of us…..
Boy that apology was quick, quick right after she realized her career died. It should have been at the time he big mouth got her in trouble not days later.
reminded me of Donna Summer’s rant- ” God created Adam and Eve- Not, Adam and Steve”
There are consequences for spewing hate! Money talks and BS gay homophobic rants walks. She will remain a severely, hateful, troubled has-been. Maybe she and that no talent Victoria Jackson and Sarah Palin can do some hate, reality show.
“It was only a joke”: Where have I heard that before?
She is done
God hates fags? Well f*gs hate Michelle Shocked. Sounds to me like she’s had a bit of a mental break.
She looks like a major dike-ola herself.
Bu-Bye..
she’s an idiot and all the back pedaling in the world won’t change what she said so she can F##K OFF!!!