Royel Otis apologise after being accused of using misogynistic lyrics on new single

Australian indie-pop duo Royel Otis have issued an apology after being accused of using misogynistic lyrics in their new single.

• READ MORE: Royel Otis: Australia’s next breakout indie heroes

‘Moody’, the latest release from the band, was released on May 9, and was written by members Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic alongside Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen.

A press release issued alongside the track sees the former stars of NME‘s The Cover describe it as “A song about a girl.” However, it has been met with controversy, with fans accusing the band of misogyny due to a lyric in the chorus that sees them sing: “My girl’s a bitch when she’s moody.”

An Instagram post announcing the single was quickly inundated with comments from disappointed fans, and Australian outlet news.com.au reports that the band have been “deleting [social media] comments that call out the lyrics and video, while only replying to the positive ones,” according to a former school friend of Pavlovic.

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One comment reads: “these lyrics are not only boring they are misogynist which clearly translates to real life behaviour when you’re deleting and blocking comments,” while another fan wrote: “Hello! Me again. Nice try deleting comments & blocking women strong enough to call out your misogynistic behaviour.”

The former friend went on to say: “In 2025, it’s disheartening to hear a local Australian artist – someone I know or I knew – casually refer to women as ‘b–hes’ in their lyrics.”

“When artists use their platforms to propagate harmful language, they contribute to a culture that devalues women and hinders progress toward equality and safety. It’s so important that we hold creators accountable and demand more responsible representation.”

Upon reaching out to the band’s management, the publication received an email from Kay and Hughes Art and Entertainment Lawyers, quoting management as saying: “Moody has been Royel Otis’ highest performing release in the first 2 weeks globally both digitally and on radio.

“This song is written from a specific perspective, it is not intended to convey a broader view or standpoint about women in general,” the statement continued. “We apologise if anyone understood those lyrics otherwise.”

NME awarded their 2024 debut album, ‘Pratts & Pain’, four stars, writing: “This is an album destined for festival season greatness – for cool-breeze drives, warm summer parties, and late-night singalongs.”

The post Royel Otis apologise after being accused of using misogynistic lyrics on new single appeared first on NME.