#11: Sinead O’Connor
Sinead O’Connor, the Irish singer-songwriter, demonstrated immense courage when she boldly challenged the Catholic Church during a live televised performance on Saturday Night Live in 1992. Her act of tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II in protest against the Church’s handling of child abuse scandals was met with a tidal wave of controversy and condemnation.
O’Connor became a lightning rod for criticism, with many ridiculing her and labeling her as unhinged or disrespectful. Yet, her actions transcended mere shock value; they forced a global conversation on the Church’s systemic issues and abuse cover-ups. In the years that followed, the scandals she denounced were exposed in their horrifying magnitude.