John Cooper Clarke: Fans walk out of Sheffield gig over 'transphobic' content

Some fans disappointed at ‘transphobic’ content at a punk poet’s gig in Sheffield walked out.
By Emily Davies
Published 5th Apr 2022, 13:25 GMT
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John Cooper Clarke upset some of his fans at the event at Sheffield University’s Students Union on Saturday.

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Martin O’Neill was one of those who walked out over what he claims were “hateful anti-trans jokes”.

Punk poet John Cooper Clarke upset some of his fans with 'transphobic' content at a gig in Sheffield (Photo: Getty)Punk poet John Cooper Clarke upset some of his fans with 'transphobic' content at a gig in Sheffield (Photo: Getty)
Punk poet John Cooper Clarke upset some of his fans with 'transphobic' content at a gig in Sheffield (Photo: Getty)
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Posting on Twitter, he said: “Walked out of @official_jcc gig @sheffieldSU... hateful anti-trans jokes do not a happy evening make.”

The people who attended said that 15 minutes into the event, the Salford poet read a poem that some felt ‘transphobic’ and ‘racist’.

Sheffield business Solus Clothes also tweeted about the event: “The best way to fight bigotry is with acts of kindness and love. I walked out of John Cooper Clarke tonight, I’m beyond words at the racism and transphobia.”

Feeby Leng added: “Waited 2.5 years to see John Cooper Clarke on Saturday just to hear him spout a load of racist, transphobic and misogynistic bullsh*t. Punk legend? Nah.”

Representatives of John Cooper Clarke have been contacted.

Related topics:John Cooper ClarkeSheffieldTwitterSalford