Catherine Garner, known musically as Slayyyter, finds herself navigating old internet history once again. Years after publicly addressing offensive posts from her teenage years, the pop singer is pushing back against another wave of online criticism that arrived just as medical troubles abruptly derailed her European tour.
The controversy traces back to remarks that originally came to light in January 2020. At that time, Garner released an open letter acknowledging that she had posted racial slurs on social media when she was 15 years old. In her statement, she admitted she recognized the offensive nature of the language even then, attributing her actions to youthful immaturity while taking personal accountability. She told listeners she deeply regretted the behavior, wished she could speak directly to her teenage self, and stated clearly that she was not racist. To back up her commitment to personal growth, Garner promised to direct a portion of proceeds from her vinyl and CD sales toward organizations that support the Black LGBTQ+ community.
That earlier reckoning was not enough to put the issue to bed permanently. The posts resurfaced recently on an online fan page, sparking renewed outrage and prompting Garner to voice her frustrations through a private Twitter account. She questioned the motive behind resurrecting high school actions after more than a decade and a half, asking how often she has to reiterate that she outgrew that behavior over 15 years ago. Pointing to her recent rise in visibility, Garner described the renewed push to cancel her as unsettling, openly wondering why certain observers appear eager to see her career unravel.
The exchange exposed familiar divisions regarding public apologies and accountability. Some critics argued that writing off racial slurs as high school foolishness minimizes the harm done, insisting that charitable donations and excuses about adolescence do not amount to genuine responsibility. On the other side, listeners pointed out that Garner had already taken accountability years before, maintaining that refusing to acknowledge sustained personal change creates an impossible standard where real rehabilitation is never permitted.
The timing of the dispute compounds an already difficult stretch for Garner on the road. She spent October touring across Europe in support of Wor$t Girl In America, her third studio album released in March, before severe vocal health complications forced an abrupt halt last week. Several doctor appointments confirmed that she was suffering from laryngitis alongside vocal cord tears. Her medical team prescribed immediate medication and mandated at least two weeks of strict vocal rest, warning that continuing to sing risked lasting damage to her voice.
Those medical orders forced the cancellation of the rest of her scheduled stops across the UK and Europe. Ticket holders are receiving refunds at their original point of purchase, though Garner noted that her team hopes to reschedule the canceled appearances sometime next year. For now, the singer remains physically sidelined and unable to perform, forced to rest her voice while an old internet controversy plays out around her once again.
