Morrissey

[[File:MorrisseySXSW2006.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Bigmouth strikes again.]]
{{music|1}}
'''Steven Patrick Morrissey''' {{lived|1959}}<ref name=wp>{{wpa|Morrissey}}</ref> is an [[English]] singer and songwriter who was lead singer of The Smiths and later a solo performer. Throughout his career, but increasingly in recent years, he has made controversial or questionable statements, both in his lyrics and in public pronouncements, on topics such as [[animal rights]] and race and immigration. He has recently been sympathetic to [[far-right]] views such as opposition to immigration despite his (batshit but [[leftist]]) [[environmentalist]] viewpoints.

==Controversies==
===Animal rights===
Morrissey has for many years been a supporter of animal rights and [[vegetarianism]], with a Smiths album called ''Meat is Murder''. He is closely involved with the controversial campaigning organisation [[PETA]], including on their campaign "Holidays Are Murder For Turkeys".<ref>[http://www.nme.com/news/music/morrissey-teams-peta-holidays-murder-turkeys-campaign-2155556 Morrissey teams up with PETA for ‘Holidays Are Murder On Turkeys’ campaign], NME, 1 Nov 2017</ref> He has also criticised other issues including bullfighting.<ref>[https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/the-bullfighter-dies-exclusive-morrissey-song-strikes-at-cruel-sport-ahead-of-pamplona/ ‘The Bullfighter Dies’: Exclusive Morrissey Song Hits Out at Cruel Sport Ahead of Pamplona], PETA UK, 3 July 2014</ref>

He has however attracted criticism for comparing meat-eating to a variety of other crimes including [[paedophilia]]<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/morrissey-i-see-no-difference-between-eating-animals-and-paedophilia-9037818.html Morrissey: 'I see no difference between eating animals and paedophilia'], The Independent (UK), 3 Jan 2014</ref> and to the [[Holocaust|death camps at Auschwitz]].<ref name=timesofisrael2014>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/eating-meat-like-supporting-auschwitz-rocker-says/ Morrissey in meat, Auschwitz parallel], Times of Israel, 5 Jan 2014</ref> Such comparisons are not popular with many groups: the [[Anti-Defamation League]] said, "The effort by PETA to compare the deliberate systematic murder of millions of [[Jews]] to the issue of animal rights is abhorrent".<ref name=timesofisrael2014/> While some radical vegetarians and [[vegan]]s have compared the Holocaust to farming of animals, veganism does not require the belief that human and animal lives are of equal value.

===Opposition to immigration===

{{cquote|And your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight.|||The Smiths, ''What Difference Does It Make?''}}


He has criticised immigration, blaming it for the disappearance of the English or British [[Nationalism|identity]]. "[[I'm not prejudiced, but...|Although]] I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears. So the price is enormous. Travel to England and you have no idea where you are. It matters because the British identity is very attractive. I grew up into it and I find it very quaint and amusing. Other countries have held on to their basic identity, yet it seems to me that England was thrown away." He insists this isn't [[racism]].<ref name=indy2007>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/morrissey-blames-immigration-for-disappearance-of-british-identity-760825.html Morrissey blames immigration for 'disappearance' of British identity], The Independent, 29 Nov 2007</ref> Morrissey's parents were both [[Irish]] people who migrated to England before his birth.<ref name=indy2007/>

In a 1992 interview he said that he did not "really think, for instance, black people and white people will ever really get on or like each other".<ref name=guardian2012/> He did not appear to think this was a good thing, merely that it was true.

When music magazine NME accused him of being racist or having racist views, he sued them, and after 5 years, the NME apologised to him in 2012.<ref name=guardian2012>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/12/morrissey-receive-apology-from-nme Morrissey to receive apology from NME], ''The Guardian'', 12 June 2012</ref>

Despite allegations of racism, he is popular with some ethnic minority groups, notably [[Hispanic]]/Latino people in North America.<ref name=wp/>

===Far right===
Various songs have been interpreted as being supportive of far-right ideas. "The National Front Disco" (1992) describes a young man who becomes involved with the [[National Front]], a racist organisation, and features the repeated line "England for the English"<ref>{{wpa|The National Front Disco}}</ref> — rather [[ironic]] since Morrissey's parents had emigrated from Dublin, [[Ireland]] to England. However most conclude that this song is an ironic look at far-right radicalisation and that lyrics weren't meant to be taken literally.

In 1992 he was accused by music magazine the ''NME'' of flirting with [[fascist]] imagery after appearing on stage wrapped in a Union Jack flag; there were reportedly members of far-right organisations in the audience.<ref name=indy2007/>

In 2018 he took issue with people throwing around accusations of racism, while claiming that [[Adolf Hitler]] [[Hitler and socialism|was left wing]] (and saying only left-wingers accuse him of racism).<ref name=nme2018/> This was him presumably [[Godwin's Law|trying to accuse his enemies]] of being [[Nazis]].

He also expressed sympathy with jailed far-right leader [[Tommy Robinson]], who received a 13-month sentence for contempt of court.<ref name=guardian20180607>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/07/morrissey-expresses-sympathy-for-jailed-edl-founder-tommy-robinson Morrissey expresses sympathy for jailed EDL founder Tommy Robinson], ''The Guardian'', 7 June 2018</ref>

===Islam===
{{main|Islamophobia}}
He has declared himself a supporter of Islamophobic activist Anne Marie Waters, formerly of [[UKIP]] and later founder of [[For Britain]].<ref name=wp/><ref name=guardian2018/> He has said she is "like a humane version of Thatcher ... if such a concept could be. She is absolute leadership, she doesn't read from a script, she believes in British heritage, freedom of speech, and she wants everyone in the UK to live under the same law."<ref name=guardian20180607/>

He has also insulted Sadiq Khan, the Muslim mayor of London, for not being able to "talk properly", such as saying "policin'" rather than "policing".<ref name=nme2018>[http://www.nme.com/news/music/morrissey-talks-racism-left-wing-hitler-says-sadiq-khan-can-not-talk-properly-2295226 Morrissey talks racism, ‘left-wing’ Hitler and says that ‘Sadiq Khan can not talk properly’], NME, 17 April 2018</ref>

Combining animal rights and Islam, he has been highly critical of [[halal]] meat.<ref name=guardian2018>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/17/morrissey-denounces-halal-meat-as-evil-attacks-theresa-may-diane-abbott-sadiq-khan-isis-for-britain Morrissey denounces halal meat as 'evil', and attacks May, Khan, Abbott and more], The Guardian, 17 April 2018</ref> He condemned the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha for featuring the slaughter of animals (as mentioned, he has also condemned turkey-based festivities in the west); he was critical of [[Theresa May]] who called Eid al-Adha a "joyous celebration".<ref name=guardian2018/> However, May's comment was the sort of meaningless comment politicians make regularly throughout the year, rather than an opinion that killing animals is inherently joyous.

===Chinese===
Morrissey has been highly critical of [[China]] for its lack of protection of animal rights. His referring to the Chinese people as a "subspecies" was seen as racist by some.<ref name=guardian2012/>

===Calling for execution of Margaret Thatcher and others===
His 1988 solo album ''Viva Hate'' included the song "Margaret on the Guillotine", which appears to be in favour of executing [[Margaret Thatcher]], who was then Prime Minister of the UK.

He also claims to have been questioned by the US Secret Service after saying he'd kill [[Donald Trump]] if he could.<ref name=wp/> He later said he didn't want to kill Trump.<ref>[http://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-morrisey-square-haters-derailing-new-album-angry-new-vlog-pedophillia-2177478 Morrissey denies ‘sympathising with paedophilia and rape’ in new vlog against his ‘haters’], NME, 18 Dec 2017</ref>

===Disability===
His song "November Spawned A Monster" has been accused of mocking the [[disabled]]; however others say it is written from the point of view of a disabled woman, and is opposed to condescension to people with disabilities.<ref>[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4369 "November Spawned A Monster"], Songfacts, accessed 3 May 2018</ref>

In contrast he has been praised for his support for other people with disabilities. While in The Smiths, he sometimes wore a hearing aid. This is thought by some to be an act of sympathy with a fan who needed a hearing aid, although others have interpreted it as an example of "disability chic" or a reference to the singer Johnny Ray, who had hearing damage.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=O3pEsVdZWUoC&lpg=PA162&ots=81EopnpQtO&dq=morrissey%20disability%20hearing%20aid&pg=PA162#v=onepage&q=morrissey%20disability%20hearing%20aid&f=false Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths], Simon Goddard, p161</ref>

===Mild criticism of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon===
This may or may not have attracted boos and walk-outs at a concert in Glasgow.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/morrissey-nicola-sturgeon-comments-glasgow-fans-walk-out-concert-reaction-tour-dates-tickets-a8217216.html Morrissey fans 'walk out of show' after singer mocks Nicola Sturgeon], The Independent, 19 Feb 2018</ref>

==See also==
*[[Jim Corr]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Animal rights]]
[[Category:Hard green]]
[[Category:Islamophobes]]
[[Category:Leftists who turned right with age]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Racists]]

Categories: Animal rights, Hard green, Islamophobes, Leftists who turned right with age, LGBTQ people, Living people, Musicians, Racists