Paloma Faith documentary branded both ‘depressing’ and ‘empowering’ by viewers

BBC documentary offers behind-the-scenes look at Faith during her world tour for The Architect

Fans are reacting to Paloma Faith’s new BBC documentary, which shines a light on the difficulties she faced after giving birth while trying to continue her career.

The music industry is frequently accused of failing to support working mothers. Paloma Faith: As I Am shows Faith behind the scenes as she tries to care for her baby while setting out on a world tour for her 2017 album, The Architect.

Viewers have shared their reactions on social media, with some expressing concern over the attitude of Faith’s own team, and others praised the singer for her “empowering” battle through a male-dominated industry.

Music critic Pete Paphides commented: “I’m not saying the Paloma Faith documentary was depressing, but I’ve just stuck on Slade in Flame to cheer myself up.”

Louise Redkapp revealed she was watching the “really great” documentary as it premiered on the BBC on Saturday evening (27 March).

A fan called it “raw, real and stunning”.

Producer David Wrench, who has worked with artists including Frank Ocean, Glass Animals, FKA twigs and Marika Hackman, said he was troubled by the attitude of Faith’s managers.

“The Paloma Faith doc is a depressing, but I fear quite accurate look at the mundanity of the big money pop world,” he wrote.

“I’d love to know if she or management had approval of it before it went out.”

He added: “Did her managers not realise how badly they were going to come across? It makes it seem that they are so deep into a world of figures, money and manipulation that they have lost all grip on what is decent behaviour.”

Faith tweeted a response to fans concerned by her manager’s behaviour, commenting: “I’m loving all your reactions to the doc thanks!

“I do want to clarify for anyone with concerns, I wouldn’t be managed by a sexist misogynist for 16 years and while some of the moments captured in the doc were not to my taste u didn’t see the entirety of the man who is a dear friend [sic].”

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In one scene, Faith has just sent her nanny back to the UK with her baby after she, her baby and the nanny became ill, and is struggling to cope.

“I find it quite difficult that I can’t split into two people,” she admits. “As soon as you’re a mother there is absolutely no choice.”

She later says: “Everyone’s really relieved that the baby’s not here anymore because they feel like it’s less stressful, but I’m miserable.”

Faith is one of the biggest-selling female artists in the UK. Her fifth album, Infinite Things, was released last year.

Paloma Faith: As I Am is available on BBC iPlayer now.