11/30/2007
Morrissey to Sue NME for Failing to Clarify Immigration Remarks
Comments by Morrissey on immigration in the most recent issue of NME amount to "character assassination" according to the singer's lawyers, who are reportedly threatening to sue the publication. Additional details of the legal action have not been revealed.
Morrissey's comments, some of which I posted yesterday, read: "With the issue of immigration, it's very difficult because, although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears. If you walk through Knightsbridge on any bland day of the week you won't hear an English accent. You'll hear every accent under the sun apart from the British accent."
Morrissey "expressed concern at how his previous comments could be interpreted" according to the Guardian, and conducted a follow-up interview, in which he said: "I just think that it would be construed that the reason I wouldn't wish to live in England is the immigration explosion. And that's not true at all."
The controversy has sparked a war of words between the former Smiths frontman and the publication, while the article's author Tim Jonze has requested that his byline be removed from everything but the Q&A, claiming dissatisfaction over the magazine's final edit.
Morrissey demands apology from NME [guardian]
Recently
Morrissey Shuns England Over "Immigration Explosion" [tr]
Posted 9:40 AM EST by Andy Towle in Immigration, London, Magazines, Morrissey, Music, News | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
This type of xenophobic attitude seems to come up with him OFTEN. Is it a coincidence?
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Nov 30, 2007 10:02:56 AM
Sorry Moz, but if you say stupid shit like that, in any context (except, possibly, on Saturday Night Live), you deserve to get taken down a few notches for it. You are a celebrity, get used to extra scrutiny.
Posted by: Michael | Nov 30, 2007 10:18:49 AM
No, this attitude doesn't come up with him often, Matthew. This is the second incident in which the NME has turned on him by manufacturing controversy to spur magazine sales.
The previous time was in 1992, I think, and the grounds for it were incredibly flimsy: he brandished a British flag (!) at a concert where Madness were also performing, which meant there were skinheads in the audience. NME then put this together with misinterpretations of lyrics from a few songs and branded him a Nazi sympathizer. As Moz said then (I'm paraphrasing), "If there's anyone Nazis would hate, it's me."
This is more about the duplicity of a tabloid music paper than about Morrissey. I wouldn't put it past NME to misquote him, and good for him for sticking it to them.
Posted by: Miles | Nov 30, 2007 10:42:21 AM
I agree with Miles on this - there's a well-known and -documented history of animosity towards la Moz on the part of the NME editorial staff - he even named them as one of the principal sources of persecution which led to him emigrating from England in the 90s (whether that was an overreaction or not is another matter, of course...) The most surprising thing about this teacup-storm is that he even gave them a second interview considering his prior treatment - I suppose he had hoped that the current editorial team no longer had an anti-Moz axe to grind, silly boy... There is a light that never goes out, and that light is resentment...
Posted by: johnnzboy | Nov 30, 2007 10:49:29 AM
No one with a Latino fanbase this humungous can be considered a racist.
Sue their fucking asses Moz!!!!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Nov 30, 2007 10:51:05 AM
I'm not spoiling for a fight with Morrissey's fans, but accusations that he is racist or has/had a fascist streak are not limited to two articles in NME—it has come up in reference to other quotes and songs and events. Granted, the Union Jack/skinhead one could have been a tempest in a teacup. (Though it wasn't explored at the time, and of course Madonna-attackers come from all viewpoints, it did cross my mind as interesting that when he snarkily said he wouldn't be surprised if she made "that African boy she adopted" into a coat—an animal-rights remark in theory—he was maybe accidentally equating an African child with a wild animal...and perhaps his seethingly nasty comment might not have happened had she adopted within her race...I'm just saying!). Anyway, it's ridiculous to think he'd cite NME's negativity as a reason for leaving England...! It's one publication, and he granted them this latest interview. I've read that the writer has disavowed this new piece as a story, but that the writer has confirmed the offensive quotes. If Morrissey didn't say that stuff, he should sue, because coupled with past incidents, this story could easily lead Morrissey-neutral people like me to passively think, "Morrissey=fascist." Anyway, I'm more surprised and confused than outraged and ready to attack about Morrissey's alleged xenophobia—it wasn't anything I thought was obvious in his music before, and his fans don't strike me as fascists. (Except when it comes to defending him, but hey, if you're a fan, you're no good if you're not willing to bareknuckle brawl over your icon!)
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Nov 30, 2007 11:28:16 AM
Morrisey has always been a no talent racist fuck. I'm not surprised by his comments in or out of context. His nasty comments about Madonna's child gave a perfect view into his putrid soul.
Posted by: michael | Nov 30, 2007 11:53:52 AM
I dont think there's anything too horrible about what Morrissey said, actually. If he was Venezuelan and said the more foreigners move to Caracas, the less you see and experience Venezuelan culture or hear Spanish in the streets, no one would have a problem with it. He didn't say "I cant stand the Pakistanis or the Caribbeans." He's allowed to be proud of his native culture, even if he is white and European.
Posted by: dizzy spins | Nov 30, 2007 9:31:42 PM
I dont think there's anything too horrible about what Morrissey said, actually. If he was Venezuelan and said the more foreigners move to Caracas, the less you see and experience Venezuelan culture or hear Spanish in the streets, no one would have a problem with it. He didn't say "I cant stand the Pakistanis or the Caribbeans." He's allowed to be proud of his native culture, even if he is white and European.
Posted by: dizzy spins | Nov 30, 2007 9:31:56 PM
Just who is this guy and what's his claim to fame? And, is he really that dumb as to be doing an interview as old as he looks and not realize its "on the record?"
These racist cowards always back down when caught in the act of telling the world how they really feel.
Posted by: Sebastian | Nov 30, 2007 10:51:24 PM
Morrissey has written and sung songs that were always misinterpreted since the Smiths (Suffer Little Children, Panic, etc.)and even as a solo artist (The National Front Disco). This little dustup with NME is a case of both trying to remain revelant to the music buying public. What is so wrong with pointing out the fact that your own culture is quickly fading into the background(We'll Let You Know)with the influx of immigrants? This is much ado about nothing.
Posted by: DC ARNOLD | Dec 1, 2007 7:14:37 PM