Billy Nomates made headlines this week after the BBC were forced to remove footage of her Glastonbury set.
The singer-songwriter, real name Tor Maries, performed at Worthy Farm’s Park Stage on Friday afternoon.
But after clips of the 33-year-old musician’s gig were later shared on BBC Radio 6’s social media channels, she was faced with a number of abusive comments from online trolls.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, before later deleting her entire profile, she made a public plea for the station to remove the footage and said she will no longer perform after fulfilling her dates already scheduled this summer.
As fellow musicians and fans rally behind the performer in support, MailOnline takes a look at Billy Nomates’ rise to fame and what exactly happened at the famous festival.
Controversial: Billy Nomates made headlines this week after t he BBC were forced to remove footage of her Glastonbury set
Who is Billy Nomates?
Billy Nomates is an English musician and songwriter whose real name is Tor Maries.
She is from Leicester, England, and turned 33 on May 2023.
Growing up, Tor was a member of a number of bands that failed to make it before enjoying success as a solo artist.
After a period of depression, a Sleaford Mogs gig inspired her to return to making music and she subsequently moved to Bournemouth where she would go on to write and compose.
Her stage name, Billy Nomates, was inspired by an insult directed at her after turning up to a gig on her own.
How did Billy Nomates become famous?
The singer released her first studio album, titled Billy Nomates, in 2020.This was followed by her second, CACTI, in 2023.
She also released an EP, Emergency Telephone, in October 2021.
In 2020, BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Amy Lamé selected Nomates’ self-titled debut record as Album of the Year.
Critics have previously described Billy Nomates’s musical style as post-punk, with the artist describing herself as a ‘no-waver’.
Reacting against punk rock’s recycling of rock and roll clichés, no wave musicians instead experiment with noise, dissonance, and atonality.
Her song, No, has over two million streams on Spotify.
Her discography collection also garners more than 132,000 listeners monthly on the streaming platform.
Rise to fame: In 2020, BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Amy Lamé selected Nomates’ self-titled debut record as Album of the Year
What happened to Billy Nomates at Glastonbury 2023?
The BBC agreed to remove footage of Billy Nomates’ Glastonbury set after she was hit with a wave of online ‘personal abuse’.
After clips of the musician’s gig were later shared on BBC Radio 6’s social media channels, she was faced with a number of abusive comments from online trolls.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, before later deleting her entire profile, she made a public plea for the station to remove the footage and said she will no longer perform after fulfilling her dates already scheduled this summer.
She urged: ‘The level of personal abuse on @bbc6muic socials for going to work today is insane.
‘I’ve asked for all footage to be removed.
‘I know it’s not for everyone what I do. I know lots of people dont rate me. But the level of personal abuse on the 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.’
The singer took to the stage solo and performed without a band, which appears to have been the focus of the criticism online.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘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.’
Plea: The BBC were forced to remove footage of Billy Nomates’ Glastonbury set after being hit with a wave of online ‘personal abuse’
Did Billy Nomates garner support?
Following on from her post, the performer was flooded with support from fellow musicians and fans.
Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who was involved in organising Glastonbury’s Left Field tent, tweeted praise for the talented star.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: ‘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.’
While producer The Anchoress added: ‘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…’
Support: Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who was involved in organising Glastonbury’s Left Field tent, echoed his support from the star
Radio DJ Edith Bowman also penned: ‘I adore @_billy_nomates a huge talent and stands out because she’s true to herself.. amazing Glasto set.. xx’
‘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.’
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.’
