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.
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?”
Morrissey has revealed he has had four medical procedures he has described as “cancer-scrapings”.
The singer has recently battled bouts of ill health but revealed the cancer news during an email interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
“I have had four cancer-scrapings, but so what. If I die, I die,” Morrissey wrote.
“If I don’t, then I don’t. As I sit here today I feel very well.”
The singer started his latest European tour in Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday.
In the exchange with journalist Javier Blanquez, he wrote: “I know I look quite bad on recent photographs, but I am afraid this is what illness does to the overall countenance. I will save relaxation for when I’m dead.”
Morrissey has revealed he has had four medical procedures described as cancer-scrapings
The announcement comes after the ex-Smiths star canceled part of a US tour when he was treated in hospital for a respiratory infection in June.
Morrissey, 55, also scrapped 22 US concerts last year due to ill health. His other recent ailments have included pneumonia, an ulcer, the throat condition Barrett’s oesophagus and anaemia.
He published his autobiography last year and is currently working on his debut novel.
“I will be delighted to see it in print next year, and I might have no reason to sing again… which will make many people very happy!” Morrissey said.
“I have reached the age where making music is meant to be over… as in finished with… so many classical composers were dead at 34.
“So, I am still here, and nobody knows what to do with me, and a lot of people still want to listen to me.”
Morrissey’s next concert is scheduled for Madrid, Spain, on October 9, and he is due to play 30 further concerts across Europe, finishing the tour in Greece in December.
Morrissey has decided to cancel the remainder of his US tour after being treated in hospital for a respiratory infection.
The singer was in the middle of a 30-day tour when he was “rushed” to hospital in Boston on Saturday, according to a statement.
The medical attention “was not enough to shake off the virus, the recovery time for which is too lengthy to meet the final nine shows of the tour”.
Morrissey cancelled 22 US concerts last year due to ill health.
Morrissey has decided to cancel the remainder of his US tour after being treated in hospital for a respiratory infection
His ailments included pneumonia, an ulcer, the throat condition Barrett’s esophagus and anemia.
A statement on Morrissey’s Facebook page said: “It is with great sadness that the remainder of the US Tour has been cancelled.
“The respiratory infection Morrissey contracted in Miami has worsened, and in the interest of making a full recovery, all further touring plans have been halted.
“Morrissey thanks his fans for their compassion, understanding, and well-wishes during this difficult period as he recuperates.”
The cancelled shows include one with Cliff Richard in New York on June 21.
A separate statement on the semi-official fan site True-To-You said: “On Saturday, June 7th, following the show at Boston Opera House, Morrissey collapsed and was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital where doctors treated Morrissey for <<acute fever>>.”
The statement blamed support act Kristeen Young for passing on “a horrendous cold”.
Kristeen Young hit back in a Facebook post, which has since been removed, saying she was suffering from an allergy attack.
Tom Jones will appear alongside Morrissey at a Los Angeles concert in May, it has been announced.
“I will be Morrissey Official’s special guest at his show at the LA Sports Arena on May 10th,” wrote Tom Jones on Facebook.
Cliff Richard will also appear as a special guest at a Morrissey concert in New York on June 21 at the Barclays Centre.
Missouri singer Kristeen Young will join the performers on both dates – the first confirmed shows for Morrissey since he abandoned touring last year.
Tom Jones and Cliff Richard will appear on separate dates in Morrissey concerts
Morrissey, who eventually cancelled more than 40 dates, suffered a number of illnesses while on tour including a bleeding ulcer, Barrett’s oesophagus and double pneumonia.
The 54-year-old singer is expected to release a 10th solo studio album later this year.
In January, Morrissey took a swipe at the music industry saying: “The majority of people have lost faith in the music industry… It’s all, now, solely a question of marketing.
“All success stories are safe and dreary, and you will never be taken by surprise by a hit song that sounds out of place.”
Morrissey’s autobiography has revealed his first full relationship came with a man when he was in his 30s.
The former Smith singer also used his autobiography to criticize the UK legal system and music business.
Morrissey, 54, was scathing about the judges in his 1990s legal battle with former bandmate Mike Joyce, describing one as the “pride of the pipsqueakery”.
The Smiths’ record label Rough Trade, he said, had been “brutally drab”.
The singer accused music paper NME of being out to “get Morrissey” in the 1990s.
Morrissey, who is normally protective of his private life, opened up about a relationship with Jake Walters that began in 1994.
Morrissey’s autobiography has revealed his first full relationship came with a man when he was in his 30s
He wrote about how Jake Walters followed him back to his house after meeting him at a restaurant and “steps inside and stays for two years”.
“For the first time in my life the eternal <<I>> becomes <<we>>, as, finally, I can get on with someone,” he wrote.
Morrissey also revealed how he later discussed having a baby – or, as he put it, a “mewling miniature monster” – with Tina Dehgani, with whom he described having an “uncluttered commitment”.
Giving his version of his 1996 court battle with Mike Joyce, who was seeking 25% of The Smiths’ earnings, Morrissey accused the drummer of “constant inaccuracies and assumptions vomited out with leaden fatigue” in court.
The group, one of the most revered bands in British music, split up in 1987 after five years together.
The presiding judge, John Weeks, came in for particularly scathing criticism, portrayed caustically as an “unsmiling Lord of the Hunt, with an immutable understanding of the world of The Smiths”.
“The pride of the pipsqueakery, John Weeks begins his judgment by falling flat on his face: He brilliantly announces to the world how The Smiths formed in 1992 – his judicial accuracy not to be questioned!” Morrissey wrote.
Morrissey autobiography was published on Thursday as a Penguin Classic. It had been due for release in September, but was delayed by what Morrissey described as “a last-minute content disagreement”.
Morrissey has halted plans to release his autobiography, three days before it was due to be published.
The memoirs were set to give details about the 54-year-old former Smiths frontman’s life growing up in Manchester and his relationship with former songwriting partner Johnny Marr.
A statement on his fan website said there had been a “last minute content disagreement” with its publisher.
A Penguin Books spokeswoman said there would be no comment on the issue.
Morrissey has halted plans to release his autobiography, three days before it was due to be published
“Although Morrissey’s autobiography was set to be available throughout the UK on September 16th, a last-minute content disagreement between Penguin Books and Morrissey has caused the venture to collapse,” the statement said.
“No review copies were printed and Morrissey is now in search of a new publisher.”
It is the latest setback for Morrissey, who suffered a series of what he referred to as “medical mishaps” which led to him cancelling his US tour earlier this year.
Morrissey was also forced to cancel part of his South American tour in July due, he said, to a “lack of funding”.
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