Billy Nomates asks BBC to take down Glastonbury footage after wave of ‘personal abuse’

Revelation prompted an outpouring of support on social media

Singer-songwriter Billy Nomates asked the BBC to remove footage of her Glastonbury 2023 set after being hit with a wave of online abuse.

The 33-year-old musician, real name Tor Maries, performed at the festival’s Park Stage on Friday afternoon (23 June).

However, after footage from her set was shared online, she was faced with a number of disparaging and abusive comments.

Keep up to date with all the updates at our Glastonbury live blog here…

“The level of personal abuse on @bbc6music socials for goin to work today is insane,” the singer said in a statement shared to social media. “I’ve asked for all footage to be removed.

“I know it’s not for everyone what I do. I know lots of people don’t rate me. But the level of personal abuse on that public page is too much. There will be no more shows after this summer. You wouldn’t stay in a workplace that did this to you. Why should I.”

At the time of writing, the set is still available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

The statement was re-shared on Twitter by singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who was involved in organising Glastonbury’s Left Field tent.

“Solidarity from everyone at Left Field with Billy No Mates who was so badly abused online after her @glastonbury set was posted on @BBC6Music that she asked them to take the clip down,” wrote the “New England” artist.

“She played a set for us last year and was brilliant. You’ll always have place here Tor.”

A spokesperson for the broadcaster told The Independent: “We want 6 Music to be a place where brilliant artists such as Billy Nomates are celebrated and supported, and we have respected Tor’s request to have the clip posted on our social channels removed.”

Others also voiced support and admiration for Billy Nomates on social media.

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

“Too angry to write...but it is clear there is widespread misogyny and sexism. Something needs to change right now.”

Radio DJ Edith Bowman wrote: “I adore @_billy_nomates a huge talent and stands out because she’s true to herself.. amazing Glasto set.. xx”

Billy Nomates at Glastonbury 2023 (BBC iPlayer)

Musician The Anchoress wrote: “Glastonbury should have been a career highlight for the fabulous Billy Nomates but instead toxic and misogynistic online culture ruins everything and she’s asked them to remove footage of her incredible set. And we wonder why we have no female headliners…”

Comedian and writer Robin Ince commented: “I hope Billy Nomates has seen all the people praising her this morning - to give your all and then see people sneer or dismiss can utterly break you – but it seems there is also a huge amount of love out there for her – deservingly so.”

Critics have somtimes described Billy Nomates’s musical style as post-punk, with the artist describing herself as a “no-waver”. No wave music is an anti-commercial spin-off of new wave music that often incorporates noise, dissonance, and atonality.

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