Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry condemns misogynist internet trolls on ‘Channel 4 News’

Band's 'Leave A Trace' video sparked misogynistic comments from internet trolls

Chvrches frontwoman Lauren Mayberry appeared on Channel 4 News last night (August 27) to discuss the misogynistic abuse she received online after wearing a short dress in the band’s recent video.

Released earlier this month, the clip for new single ‘Leave A Trace’ was met with misogynistic comments from internet trolls, prompting Mayberry to respond via Twitter. “Dear anyone who thinks misogyny isn’t real. It is and this is what it looks like,” she posted, alongside a link to a 4chan thread (since removed).

Speaking to Cathy Newman, the singer called the response to the video “ludicrous”. Click below to watch the segment.

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“I am a 27-year-old woman wearing a mini-dress with wet-look hair.” said Mayberry. “If you don’t like it, that’s fine, but there is a difference between criticism and hatred.”

Mayberry acknowledged that Chvrches attract more abuse because they’re in the public eye, but asserted that “this happens to women all the time anyway, and I hate the idea that young girls who follow our band deal with stuff like that. I don’t want them to feel isolated, I don’t want them to feel like it is just happening to them, because it happens everywhere”.

She also revealed one specific incident that left her horrified. “Somebody tweeted me the other day, ‘If you can’t learn to deal with this sort of shit, stick a gun in your mouth before the record even comes out. I have one and I’ll give it to you.’ Personally, that’s horrifying, if somebody put that through your door, you would go to the police with that.

“To me it is not necessarily you responding that trolls want, they want to scare, they want to intimidate and they want to silence people,” she added.

NMEPress/Danny Clinch

Chvrches – made up of Mayberry, Martin Doherty and Iain Cook – recently announced a UK headline tour for November. The trio will play shows in Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Dundee and Birmingham before playing London’s Alexandra Palace. Four Tet will provide support on the London date.

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Chvrches will play:

Brighton Dome (November 16)
Bristol O2 Academy (17)
Manchester Albert Hall (19)
Newcastle O2 Academy (21)
Aberdeen Music Hall (23)
Dundee Fat Sam’s (24)
Birmingham O2 Academy (25)
London Alexandra Palace (27)

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