Sinead O’Connor recalls the live TV moment that ruined her career

‘It represented liars and abuse: Sinead O’Connor reveals why she doesn’t regret ripping up a picture of the Pope on national TV


Sinead O’Connor, 54, has reflected on the controversial moment she ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on prime-time television in 1992. 

In an extract from her new book Rememberings, published by Stellar magazine on Sunday, the Irish singer-songwriter explained that she had no regrets about the career-ending stunt.    

‘My intention had always been to destroy my mother’s photo of the Pope. It represented lies and liars and abuse,’ she wrote. 

‘It represented lies and liars and abuse’: Sinead O’Connor, 54, has reflected on the controversial moment she ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on prime-time television in 1992 

‘I never knew when or where or how I would destroy it, but destroy it I would when the right moment came,’ she continued. 

Sinead explained that after waking up ‘p**sed off’ she decided that she would tear the image up during her performance on Saturday Night Live.

‘I decide tonight is the night. I know if I do this there’ll be war. But I don’t care. I know my Scripture. Nothing can touch me. I reject the world…’

'My intention had always been to destroy my mother's photo of the Pope': Sinead explained that after waking up 'p**sed off' she decided that she would tear the image up during her performance on Saturday Night Live (pictured)

‘My intention had always been to destroy my mother’s photo of the Pope’: Sinead explained that after waking up ‘p**sed off’ she decided that she would tear the image up during her performance on Saturday Night Live (pictured) 

The fall-out from Sinead’s stunt was largely unforgiving, with many claiming the incident ruined her career. 

However, the hit-maker said she doesn’t doesn’t feel the need to be liked by others or accepted by the music industry. 

‘I’m not a pop star. I’m just a troubled soul who needs to scream into a mic now and then. I don’t need to be number one.’ 

'I'm not a pop star': The hit-maker went to say that she doesn't feel the need to be accepted by the music industry, and defines success based on her 'contract with the Holy Spirit'

‘I’m not a pop star’: The hit-maker went to say that she doesn’t feel the need to be accepted by the music industry, and defines success based on her ‘contract with the Holy Spirit’ 

‘I don’t need to be liked. I don’t need to be welcome at the AMAs [American Music Awards],’ she wrote. 

Rememberings by Sinéad O’Connor (Penguin, $45), available now

In an interview with The New York Times last month, Sinéad described her decision to rip up the photo as ‘brilliant’. 

However, she said of the public backlash she received afterwards: ‘It was very traumatising. It was open season on treating me like a crazy b***h.’ 

No regrets: In an interview with The New York Times last month, Sinéad described her decision to rip up the photo as 'brilliant'

No regrets: In an interview with The New York Times last month, Sinéad described her decision to rip up the photo as ‘brilliant’