Singer Sinead O’Connor has announced that she has cancelled her upcoming tour dates to enter a ‘one-year programme for trauma and addiction’ starting next week.
The Irish singer, 53, took to Twitter to reveal her news on Tuesday, after saying she had ‘lost someone beloved’ and had endured a ‘traumatic six years.’
Sinead admitted she has been ‘addicted to weed for 34 years’ but ‘became briefly addicted’ to another drug following her loss.
Announcement: Sinead O’Connor (pictured September 2019) said on Twitter on Tuesday she is postponing her shows until 2022 to go into a ‘one-year programme for trauma and addiction’
Treatment: The Irish singer, 53, opened up about her ‘traumatic six years’ in a lengthy thread to her fans, revealing that she has been ‘addicted to weed for 34 years’
She will be postponing her performances, with the exception of her dates in Ireland, until 2022.
Sinead uses two Twitter accounts, one managing her professional business with an official blue tick and another under her Islamic moniker Shuhanda Sadaqat, which she used to make the announcement.
Apologising to her fans in a heartfelt statement, she penned: ‘Message for folks who have tickets for next year’s shows: those shows are being postponed until 2022 so that I may go into a one year trauma and addiction treatment program because I had a very traumatic six years and this year was the end of it but now recovery starts.’
She continued: ‘This year I lost someone beloved and has affected me so badly that I became briefly addicted to a drug other than weed.
‘I have been addicted to weed for 34 years. A lifetime.
‘I grew up with a lot of trauma and abuse. I then went straight into the music business. And never learned really how to make a normal life.
Trauma: The singer (pictured December 2019) described the music industry as an ‘unforgiving place’ for those who need to postpone shows ‘due to emotional or mental health issues
Returning: The Nothing Compares 2 U hitmaker then pleaded with her fans to be ‘supportive’ and keep hold of their tickets for 2022, when she vowed to return with a new album
‘Never took proper time to heal. Wasn’t ready to either.’
The Nothing Compares 2 U hitmaker then pleaded with her fans to be ‘supportive’ and keep hold of their tickets for 2022, when she vowed to return with a new album.
But she also added that her four shows in Ireland will not be cancelled ‘unless Covid prevents them’ as she does not need to leave the ‘country or rehab to do those’.
She wrote: ‘I would ask you please to be supportive and understanding and to hold onto your tickets for 2022 because I will be back with a new album and tour.
‘I truly apologise to anyone this causes inconvenience to.’
Mental health: Sinead revealed that she is beginning treatment next week before launching on a brief tirade about ‘what a total t**t Trump is’
Music career: The musician even voiced her concerns that her decision to go into treatment could end her career, saying that if that were to happen ‘then so be it’
Sinead explained that the last year has been ‘traumatic’ for her due to one of her children ‘being unwell’, adding that they are now ‘thriving thank god’.
She added: ‘If I take this time to heal, I will be fit for a lifetime of touring. If I don’t, I won’t.
‘If you knew the six years I’ve had, your know what I’m talking about. And I will explain very clearly in 2022.’
The singer described the music industry as a ‘very unforgiving place’ for those who need to postpone commitments ‘due to emotional or mental health issues’.
She even voiced her concerns that her decision could end her career, saying that if that were to happen ‘then so be it’.
Going ahead: Sinead added that her four shows in Ireland will not be cancelled ‘unless Covid prevents them’ as she does not need to leave the ‘country or rehab to do those’
Emotional: Sinead’s mental health issues have been well documented over the years and she often uses social media as a sounding board for her woes
Sinead revealed that she is beginning her treatment next week, before launching on a brief Twitter tirade about ‘what a total t**t Trump is’.
She penned: ‘Treatment begins next week so I’ll still be posting here until then. Mostly about what a total t**t Trump is. And how he’s way too stupid not to be clever.
‘They may as well just have Putin openly in charge of America since he’s been running it for four years anyway.’
The musician assured her fans that her memoir is still being released next year as she had originally planned and will be promoting her new venture online.
Sinead’s mental health issues have been well documented over the years and she often uses social media as a sounding board for her woes.
If you have been affected by any issues in this story contact Mind Charity on 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]