It's sad to see her not getting the respect she deserves here. I don't care about anything she did before or after this.
On October 3rd 1992 at the absolute height of her fame she ripped up a picture of the pope live on television during her appearance on SNL. She did so in protest of the Catholic's church massive cover up of it's sexual abuse against children. 25 Years later a movie called Spotlight won an academy for telling the story of Journalists who exposed the entire thing, O'conner was a decade before the journalists and two decades before the movie.
So how did she know? She was a victim herself and those are the first people to know. SNL of course disavowed her action and had Joe Pesci come on the next night and threaten to punch her in the face. Yep, SNL threatened to beat up a victim of sexual abuse for speaking out. Despite O'Conner being proven 100% correct, SNL has never publicly apologized.
She is a true hero who took on one of if not the most powerful organization on earth (before it was cool). It came at a great cost to her career and to her mental and physical health. In a world were celebrities pretend to be brave, she actually was. She should be celebrated on these forums and other other place that respects people who do the right thing regardless of the cost.
Her first album "The Lion and the Cobra" was named in reference to Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
I remember the incident on one of the cabal award shows (Grammys?), where she got booed, and left the stage crying. This was after the SNL display. Kris Kristofferson stuck up for her, telling her, "Don't let the bastards get you down."
It's sad to see her not getting the respect she deserves here. I don't care about anything she did before or after this.
On October 3rd 1992 at the absolute height of her fame she ripped up a picture of the pope live on television during her appearance on SNL. She did so in protest of the Catholic's church massive cover up of it's sexual abuse against children. 25 Years later a movie called Spotlight won an academy for telling the story of Journalists who exposed the entire thing, O'conner was a decade before the journalists and two decades before the movie.
So how did she know? She was a victim herself and those are the first people to know. SNL of course disavowed her action and had Joe Pesci come on the next night and threaten to punch her in the face. Yep, SNL threatened to beat up a victim of sexual abuse for speaking out. Despite O'Conner being proven 100% correct, SNL has never publicly apologized.
She is a true hero who took on one of if not the most powerful organization on earth (before it was cool). It came at a great cost to her career and to her mental and physical health. In a world were celebrities pretend to be brave, she actually was. She should be celebrated on these forums and other other place that respects people who do the right thing regardless of the cost.
Her first album "The Lion and the Cobra" was named in reference to Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
I remember the incident on one of the cabal award shows (Grammys?), where she got booed, and left the stage crying. This was after the SNL display. Kris Kristofferson stuck up for her, telling her, "Don't let the bastards get you down."
I’m pretty sure that was the Bob Dylan anniversary show. She eventually recited the words from Bob Marley’s song “War” and left the stage
Ahh, that's it. It was quite a while ago so I had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.