Sydney indie-pop duo Royel Otis are facing criticism following the release of their new single “Moody”, with some listeners accusing the band of using misogynistic language in the track and allegedly deleting online comments calling them out for it.
The song, which dropped on May 9th, has already garnered tens of thousands of views on YouTube and was co-written with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen and produced by Blake Slatkin (Charli XCX, Omar Apollo).
While it marks the band’s strongest digital and radio performance to date, its the track’s lyrical content—particularly lines that reference a woman as a “bitch”—that has sparked widespread backlash online.
Lyrics from the track include: “She’s always givin’ it to me/Late nights, she always accusin’/Last time, she said she would kill me/My girl’s a bitch when she’s moody …”
The track, described by the band as simply “a song about a girl,” was debuted in front of celebrity guests at a sold-out Troubadour before its official release. However, criticism mounted quickly upon its official release, with social media users accusing the band of promoting harmful stereotypes and silencing dissenting voices by removing negative comments.
A former schoolmate of Otis Pavlovic told news.com.au they found the lyrics disappointing and out of step with current conversations around gender and representation. “In 2025, it’s disheartening to hear a local Australian artist—someone I know or I knew—casually refer to women as ‘bitches’ in their lyrics,” they said. “They’ve been deleting comments that call out the lyrics and video, while only replying to the positive ones. It’s dismissive and cowardly, and it says a lot about whose voices they value.”
The schoolmate continued, “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.”
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In a response provided to news.com.au by Kay and Hughes Art and Entertainment Lawyers on behalf of the band, Royel Otis said: “’Moody’ has been Royel Otis’ highest performing release in the first two weeks globally both digitally and on radio.”
They added, “This song is written from a specific perspective, it is not intended to convey a broader view or standpoint about women in general. We apologise if anyone understood those lyrics otherwise.”
Rolling Stone AU/NZ has reached out to the band’s management for further comment.
The duo—Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic—have had a whirlwind last year, which saw a top 10 debut album, four ARIA wins including Best Group, international tours, and a sold-out homecoming at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. Their latest release comes ahead of a huge run of dates across the US, including sets at Glastonbury, Mad Cool, Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, and Bonnaroo, as well as supporting Halsey on her North American tour in June.
