[Ammi]

Nelly Furtado has revealed her decision to stop performing following attacks by body shamers on social media.

The Canadian singer-songwriter, 46, has decided to step back and focus on the next chapter.

In a social media post marking the 25th anniversary of her Grammy-nominated “Whoa Nelly!” album, she said: “I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future and pursue some other creative and personal endeavours that I feel would better suit this next phase of my life.”

The singer was criticised in February after she shared a picture of herself in a bikini, saying her look was natural.

She has previously discussed pursuing legal action against online “charlatans”.

During an appearance at the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall, she was criticised by body shamers and weeks later at Manchester Pride on Aug 24, she took to the stage in a shirt with an oversized graphic of a woman in a cropped tank top in response.

One person said on X: “So at Pride, Nelly Furtado wore what looked like a toned tummy printed on a shirt dress and I presumed it was because of all the weird comments she’s got recently about being ‘big’.”

At the time, Furtado said: “Have a body neutral 2025, but most importantly, love with every inch of your heart. Thanks for all the memories this year.”

In her latest post, she said: “I have enjoyed my career immensely, and I still love writing music as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to make into a career.

“I’ll identify as a songwriter forever. I’m grateful for all the years of fun, community and wonder.

“Endless gratitude to anyone who has ever listened and vibrated with my music and attended any of my shows. I love you and your open hearts.”

She also lent her support to others in the music industry and said she wished “many years of fruitful and passionate performance” to the “new generation of artists”.

The singer said she was happy that her music had reached a new generation of fans and that she “couldn’t be happier about that”.

She added: “In the year 2000 I remember feeling purpose in hoping some kid would dust off the Whoa, Nelly! vinyl one day in a record shop and think it was cool or inspiring , so I never could have guessed that there would be so many new ways to discover ‘old’ music in 2025!

“To have so many people rediscovering my music has been surreal and joyful. It’s been so fun embracing this opportunity, getting out on stages again and seeing up close, the true lasting power of good music. It’s made me really believe in magic.”

She shared footage of her performing in Berlin and also an image of her as a 20-year-old about to perform her first show as a professional artist at Lilith Fair.

The singer thanked all those who had supported her.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/nelly-furt...070500286.html