Swedish singer Zara Larsson has sparked widespread controversy after responding to a fan's TikTok video about terminating a pregnancy following one of her concerts.
The fan had posted footage from a recent live performance of Ms Larsson's track Midnight Sun with the caption stating she was unaware of her pregnancy at the time but was glad her baby heard the song before she ended the pregnancy.
The 28-year-old Swedish pop star replied to the post on Tuesday, writing: "I killed the performance and then you killed it after the performance purrrrrr."
Her comment has since triggered significant backlash across social media platforms.
Zara Larsson is a chart-topping singer from Sweden | PA"I’m pro-choice, but what a horrendous thing to say," one critic wrote on Instagram, while another penned: "This is disgusting no matter your views."
Another fan said: "What a sick time we live in.
A third added: "See, I’m pro-choice but what a tasteless and tacky thing to say."
"Just removed all of her songs from my library," declared another disappointed fan.
Zara Larsson was responding to a fan on Tiktok
|Tiktok
Anti-abortion groups and conservative commentators have condemned Ms Larsson's remark.
Students for Life of America declared: "Speaking about babies this way is demonic. The normalization of abortion's violence is evil, and it exposes that the Left only cares that babies continue to die."
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck directed his criticism at the singer personally, stating: "You have to be possessed by an actual demon to think this is funny in any way, @zaralarsson."
The account Libs of TikTok offered a single-word response: "Demonic."
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Zara Larsson
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Ben Zeisloft, communications director at the Foundation to Abolish Abortion, added: "Women are not victims of abortion."
The criticism extended beyond pro-life circles, with columnist Samantha Smith, who identifies as pro-choice, expressing concern about the singer's influence.
"Millions of little girls look up to Zara Larsson … and this is the example she's setting for them. Utterly grim," Ms Smith remarked.
Meanwhile, other users on the Chinese-owned platform joined in with their own comments, making light of the situation.
Zara Larsson unleashed her rant on social media in January
|"The baby never saw the sun but at least it saw midnight sun," one quipped, whilst another wrote: "It was to die for."
A third user joked: "No way a clump of cells saw Zara Larsson before me."
Ms Larsson has previously courted controversy over her political positions.
She revealed last year that she withdrew from performing at Eurovision 2024 due to Israel's participation in the contest.
Zara Larsson
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"I didn't feel like I could go on that stage and stand for those who competed, Israel," the singer told Sveriges Radio at the time.
The Never Forget You and Symphony hitmaker also sparked quite the reaction with her lengthy social media rant directed towards US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) in January.
The singer began by listing "things she likes", which included "immigrants, criminals, trans people, abortions, queers, s****y women, contraception, welfare, and socialism".
She ended the list with the quote: "I f***ing hate Ice."
Ms Larsson went on to rant that her partner was barred from entering the USA for a drug-related offence six years earlier.
Ms Larsson's representatives have been approached for comment.