Alanis Morissette dropped out of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony because of 'anti-woman sentiment'
Emma Guinness
Featured Image Credit: REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo/Alanis Morissette/YouTube
Alanis Morissette has explained why she decided to drop out of her scheduled appearance at this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.
The 'Ironic' singer, 48, ultimately decided not to perform at the event in order to protest alleged 'anti-woman sentiment' within the music industry.
Morissette was meant to honour Carly Simon with her performance of 'You're so Vain' alongside 19-year-old Olivia Rodrigo on Saturday (5 November) to honour the induction of the 79-year-old.
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But when it came to it, Rodrigo was left honouring the music legend alone.
However, as Morissette's appearance was not publicly billed, her absence from the ceremony initially went unnoticed until she made her feelings known on social media.
"I have spent decades in an industry that is rife with an overarching anti-woman sentiment and have tolerated a lot of condescension and disrespectfulness, reduction, dismissiveness, contract-breaching, unsupportiveness, exploitation and psychological violence (and more) throughout my career," she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
"I tolerated it because nothing would stop me from connecting with those whom I cared about and resonated with. I live to serve and connect with people and so over the years I sucked it up on more occasions than I can count in order to do so.
"It's hard not to be affected in any industry around the world, but Hollywood has been notorious for its disrespect of the feminine in all of us."
While the singer did not cite any examples of the treatment of women that caused her to pull out of the performance, she said she was 'at a point in my life where there is no need for me to spend time in an environment that reduces women'.
Morissette then explained where she would be happy performing.
"I have had countless incredible experiences with production teams with all genders throughout my life. So many, and so fun," she concluded. "There is nothing better than a team of diverse people coming together with one mission.
"I'll continue to show up in those environments with bells on."
If music fans' reactions to Rodrigo's performance are anything to go by, she slayed her performance of the iconic song at Simon's induction.
One wrote: "Glad to know that a young artist like Olivia is familiar with Carly Simon's music."
"I was prepared not to like this, have been around long enough to remember the original hit," added a second. "She did Carly and the song proud."
"Well done rendition of a classic," wrote a third while a fourth praised: "she's a good example for younger generation to never forget how good are old songs are, never feel ashamed listening old songs! [sic]"
What did you think of the performance?