‘Career over’: Aussie rocker cops backlash

The lead singer of a popular Aussie band has sparked vicious backlash and claims her career is “over” for posing with a pro-Trump cap.

Musician Hayley Mary wears a MAGA cap Picture: Instagram

Australian singer-songwriter Hayley Mary has sparked vicious backlash after she posted wearing a pro-Trump MAGA cap on social media.

Mary, who is both a solo artist and the lead singer of critically acclaimed band The Jezabels, has claimed that she’s lost friends, fans, followers and even members of her own team.

The Jezabels formed in 2007 and went on to enjoy a hugely successful career as a band, winning an ARIA Music Award, an Australian Music Prize and three Australian Independent Record Awards.

Musician Hayley Mary has sparked backlash after she posted wearing a MAGA cap. Picture: Instagram.

She claims she wore the controversial baseball cap to protest Australia’s Misinformation Bill.

“The MAGA hat was for shock value,” she told Herald Sun. “Without it, it would have been a very dry post about a Misinformation Bill … that no-one would have seen or discussed.”

However, Mary’s MAGA moment has sparked industry-wide outrage and she claims it’s gotten her “cancelled”.

“The fallout was everything you could imagine. I probably no longer have a music career in the way that I knew it,” she said.

“I’ve lost some friends, though I hope that’s temporary. I’ve lost some of the infrastructure of my business; publicity, band members, crew members, a show, my album launch, some revenue and quite a few followers.”

The singer said she has even had a venue cancel one of her planned shows over the post.

“I was aware of what would happen. But I think the (Misinformation) Bill is dangerous enough to risk my career over.”

“I know the MAGA movement is different things to different people, but (it also represents) the president of the free world and 73 million people voted for him, so I’m not sure if we need to change our relationship with it.”

Hayley Mary has enjoyed a hugely successful career in the Australian music industry. Picture: Supplied.

She said the harshest reactions have come from the “usual suspects”, adding: “They have spent their lives trying to bully people out of careers. The irony is, I’ve … cancelled myself. There’s nothing for you to do here.”

Mr Trump’s surprise election win has sparked a divisive reaction around the world in recent days.

The Jezabels, who have been on hiatus since 2017, include lead vocalist Hayley Mary, guitarist Sam Lockwood, pianist and keyboardist Heather Shannon, and drummer and percussionist Nik Kaloper.

The band’s three albums all charted within the top 5 on the ARIA album chart upon release, and were well-reviewed by music critics.

Originally published as ‘Career over’: Aussie rocker cops backlash