Shirley Manson of Garbage Shares Thoughts on Intolerance During Sydney Performance Following Bondi Beach Shooting

Shirley Manson of Garbage in Dana Point, California in September 2025.
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Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Garbage performed at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday, Dec. 14, only hours after the tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach.
• Shirley Manson spoke out against “intolerance” during the show.
• At least 15 people were killed, and 40 were injured in the horrific incident, according to multiple outlets.

Shirley Manson, lead singer of the band Garbage, addressed the theme of “intolerance” following a tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

The band performed at the Sydney Opera House on December 14, mere hours after the incident, which resulted in at least 15 fatalities and over 40 injuries. Manson, 49, remarked on the horrific event during the concert, as reported through videos shared online.

“This has become an astoundingly frightening, violent, hateful, intolerant world,” she said. “And I think the only thing we can do really, as people who do not believe in all this separation and all this intolerance, all we can really do is really try and profess our love for one another.”

Duke Erikson, Shirley Manson, Butch Vig and Steve Marker of Garbage in Hollywood in January 2025.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Manson continued, highlighting the band’s long-standing beliefs in unity. “We have been a band that have always believed that we are one people under one sun. It doesn’t matter what god you worship, or color of your skin, or what your gender is, or what your sexual orientation is, what food you like to eat, what clothes you like to wear, how you like to hang your junk, whether you like to wear a bra or not wear a bra.”

“But you get my point,” she added. “It’s all so f—ing stupid.”

She also criticized those in power, saying, “We have people in power telling us to really hate one another, and destroy one another.”

Earlier that day, two gunmen, identified by the police as a father and son, opened fire on a crowd in Archer Park, where attendees had gathered for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah by the Sea.

The attack led to at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries, with victims aged between 10 and 87, according to reports from BBC News, Sky News, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Mourners gathering at Bondi Beach on Dec. 15, 2025.

Saeed KHAN / AFP via Getty

In a follow-up statement, Garbage also addressed the incident on social media. “Six of our very own, beloved and close family members were at Bondi Beach just a few hours before this horrendous incident took place yesterday on the first night of Hanukkah here in Sydney, Australia,” the band wrote.

The group expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts go out to the victims and their surviving families who are now dealing with unfathomable loss and heartbreak. We love you so much, Sydney.”

They concluded with a powerful message against hate: “F— all this vile antisemitism. F— Islamophobia. The killing has to stop. It is insane and wildly cruel. We have to find a way forward. We simply can’t go on hurting one another like this. If you live in Sydney, please consider donating blood as soon as possible. We love you. Stay soft. Give Blood.”