Canadian singer Nelly Furtado rose to global recognition after her 2000 debut album Whoa, Nelly! and the Grammy-winning single “I’m Like a Bird”. More than two decades later, she announced she will be stepping away from performing for the foreseeable future.
In-Between Years after Return from Singing and public attention
Having returned to the stage in 2024 after a seven-year break, Furtado embarked on her Better Than Ever tour, reconnecting with fans and celebrating a musical legacy. Yet alongside the resurgence came a growing sense of fatigue. Media coverage and social-media commentary began to shift from celebrating her voice to scrutinizing her appearance.
At a recent Manchester Pride performance she wore an oversized t-shirt with an hourglass silhouette and the words “Better than ever” on the back a choice that her stylist later described as a statement against body-shaming.
When Body-Shaming Becomes the Story
Furtado has spoken openly in the past about how her image was edited her olive skin lightened, her hips cropped in magazine spreads. She also clarified that she has never undergone cosmetic surgery apart from veneers, amid circulating rumors.
These issues of appearance and public perception appear to have weighed on her deeply. While she did not explicitly say body-shaming led to her decision to pause performances, the timing and surrounding commentary suggest a strong connection.
