Musician and actor Steve Wall has prompted a Twitter furore after responding to St. Vincent’s claims that “systemic sexism” exists within the music industry.
"As all systems of power go, you need a seat at the table,” she told Rolling Stone. "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu. So it's a question of having more women in positions of power to give people a chance who, for reasons of unfortunate systemic sexism in this case, have not had the opportunity.
"I see the tide turning,” she continued. “Equality for all doesn't mean 'at the detriment of this person or that person,’ it means equality.”
Taking to social media, The Stunning man said: “I have never witnessed sexism in the music business. In fact today’s biggest stars are women and many powerful women work in the industry. Let’s be realistic here. What’s she on about?”
This prompted a swift rebuke from many including fellow musician Brigid Mae Power.
“I have experienced so much sexism in the music industry, things I thought that were normal until I saw how my other half - also a musician - was treated,” she says. “It’s crazy to me that you can say you’ve never seen sexism so then that means it doesn’t exist?
“I have been lifted up off stage and felt up by a sound guy. I have been laughed at by another sound engineer; this has happened so many times. Also sound engineers constantly choose to talk to my drummer instead of me when we are discussing set up issues.
“I have had people say ‘you’re good for a girl’ countless times. I’ve had people not pay me but pay my male colleagues. I mean this list could go on and on… oh, yeah, I once had a drunk sound engineer/DJ slap me when I was asking a question.”
Responding to Power’s comments, Wall said: “Thanks Brigid and I’m sorry to hear you’ve experienced this. It seems I do have to come out of the fog and educate myself further on this matter.”
In another tweet, he stated that: “The Stunning work with women, our booking agent is a woman, a woman did our front of house sound in Cork last December. The Project Manager for our last album was a woman, we deal with women every day in the business. There’s no sexism in our world. The Stunning love women.”
Expect this one to run and run...

I have never witnessed sexism in the music business. In fact today’s biggest stars are women and many powerful women work in the industry. Let’s be realistic here. What’s she on about? https://t.co/6tN0lwML0B

— Steve Wall (@stevethewall) February 15, 2019