Morrissey Sparks Controversy after Defending Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein
Morrissey has made surprising remarks in an interview in which he defended Kevin Spacey over allegations of abuse.
The former Smiths singer said Kevin Spacey had been “attacked unnecessarily”, adding it was “ridiculous” that the actor was being erased from an upcoming movie.
Morrissey, 58, also argued that definitions of harassment and assault have become too broad.
Speaking to the German newspaper Der Spiegel, he began by stating “rape is disgusting [and] every physical attack is repugnant”.
Last month, Anthony Rapp accused Kevin Spacey of harassing him when he was 14.
Anthony Rapp told Buzzfeed that Kevin Spacey, then aged 26, laid on top of him at a party at his apartment in 1986 and alleged the star “was trying to seduce” him.
Kevin Spacey said he was “beyond horrified” by the claim, adding that he did not remember the alleged incident.
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Morrissey said Anthony Rapp’s claims “did not sound very credible to me”.
“I don’t know about you, but I was never in situations like this in my youth,” he told the publication.
“Never. I was always aware of what could happen. When you are in somebody’s bedroom, you have to be aware of where that can lead to.”
Morrissey also cast doubt on the dozens of women who have accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of assault.
“People know exactly what’s going on,” the singer reportedly said when asked about Harvey Weinstein inviting actresses to his hotel room, “and they play along”.
“Afterwards, they feel embarrassed or disliked. And then they turn it around and say: <<I was attacked, I was surprised>>.
“But if everything went well, and if it had given them a great career, they would not talk about it.”
“I hate rape… But in many cases, one looks at the circumstances and thinks that the person who is considered a victim is merely disappointed.”
More than fifty women, many of them some of the biggest names in Hollywood, have accused Harvey Weinstein of assault, harassment, abuse and rape, which allegedly took place over four decades.
Morrissey added that many famous musicians had slept with fans who were under the age of consent.
“Throughout the history of music and rock ‘n’ roll there have been musicians who slept with their groupies,” the singer said, while clarifying that he was not one of them.
“If you go through history, almost everyone is guilty of sleeping with minors. Why not throw everyone in jail right away?”