Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56.

In 1992, Sinead O’Connor created a firestorm of controversy when she ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II during her live performance on Saturday Night Live.

During her SNL appearance, after singing a powerful rendition of Bob Marley’s “War,” O’Connor raised a photograph of the Pope to the camera and tore it up, urging everyone to “fight the real enemy.”

The gesture was a courageous statement, but it triggered an immediate deluge of angry calls to NBC and alienated some of her audience.

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At the time of the incident, Connor was 26 yeard old. In the weeks that followed, Andrew Dice Clay expressed a desire to give O’Connor “such a smack,” while Frank Sinatra openly said he wanted to “kick her ass.” Millionaire producer Jonathan King said she “needed a spanking”. Their harsh criticisms further fueled the controversy and intensified the public backlash against the young singer.

Amidst the chaos, singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson emerged as a beacon of compassion and support. As the scheduled performer at Madison Square Garden’s tribute concert to Bob Dylan, Kristofferson was tasked with removing O’Connor from the stage if needed.

However, instead of reprimanding her, he went out and put his arm around her, checking in on her well-being. He stayed by her side until she was ready to perform, showing genuine care and understanding.

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The aftermath of the incident was a trying time for O’Connor’s career. Her records were bulldozed in a Times Square publicity stunt, and death threats and canceled gigs followed in her wake. Despite facing numerous challenges, O’Connor continued recording music and found success in other countries, even as her career in the United States suffered.