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Sinéad O'Connor announces retirement from music - then backtracks declaring 'I love my job'

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - FEBRUARY 01: Singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor performs on stage at Vogue Theatre on February 01, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)
Sinead O'Connor (Getty Images)

Sinéad O'Connor has announced she is retiring from music - only to retract her statement declaring "I love my job".

The 54-year-old singer – who also uses the name Shuhada Sadaqat after converting to Islam in 2018 – tweeted over the weekend: "This is to announce my retirement from touring and from working in the record business. I've gotten older and I'm tired."

But the Nothing Compares 2 U singer has now announced on Twitter: "Good news. F*** retiring. I retract. Am not retiring. I was temporarily allowing pigs in lipstick to f***k my head up."

Read more: Sinéad O'Connor boycotts 'Woman's Hour' after 'offensive and misogynistic' interview

She went on: "I said I was retiring. As I've said many times before in knee jerk reactions when I was young and made the butt of media abuse on the grounds I'm legally vulnerable.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19:  Sinead O'Connor performs live for fans  at Sydney Opera House on March 19, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
Sinead O'Connor said she was born to perform. (Getty Images)

"The hugest misconception of 'Sinéad O'Connor' is that she is Amazonian. I'm not. I'm a five foot four inch soft hearted female who is actually very vulnerable.

"When people ridicule or invalidate or disrespect or abuse or misuse me... I turn back into the hurt child. Or that appallingly treated young woman, and my job becomes something I'm terrified of.

"But I love my job. Making music that is... I am born for live performance."

O'Connor added: "I feel safe in retracting my expressed wish to retire and I will in fact be doing all shows currently booked for 2022.

"Also, I lied when I said I was past my peak. Ain't no such f***in' thing."

The No Man's Woman singer – who has spoken publicly about suffering from clinical depression and bipolar disorder and having attempted suicide several times – published a lengthy statement citing her treatment in several interviews while publicising her new book last week as the trigger for her premature retirement.

Watch: Sinead O'Connor to boycott top British radio show after 'offensive' interview

O'Connor again highlighted her interview with BBC Woman's Hour, during which Emma Barnett had asked the musician how she felt about being described as "the crazy lady in pop's attic".

The singer said: "What matters more is I say it on behalf of all women who are legally vulnerable as a result of violent trauma. Or emotional and psychological abuse."

Read more: Sinéad O'Connor claims Prince tried to beat her up

After announcing her retirement O'Connor – who announced last November that she was entering treatment for trauma and drug addiction – had expressed a desire to become a mentor on singing talent show The Voice.

She tweeted: "PS re retiring.... have always wanted to be one of the artists involved in presenting and mentoring on the The Voice of Ireland ... But never was free to do it. Am now. So if they ever want me they can contact my managers."

Watch: Sinéad O'Connor says Prince was violent towards her