Hours after Morrissey’s manager criticized the Simpsons’ mocking the singer as “offensive,” weighed the former Smiths frontman with a lengthy statement on his website.
“The hatred towards me shown by the creators of The Simpsons is clearly a sad lawsuit, ”Morrissey wrote,“ but one that requires more funding than I could ever muster to face a challenge. ‘
The Simpsons episode in question – “Panic on the Streets of Springfield,” which aired Sunday – finds Lisa in love with a vegan British musician named Quilloughby (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who previously fronted a band called the Snuffs.
The character first appears as Lisa’s imaginary friend, influencing her more rigid demeanor, and he also sings parody songs (co-written with Flight of the Conchords ‘Bret McKenzie) such as’ Hamburger Homicide ‘and’ Everyone Is Horrid Except Me ( and possibly you)). When Lisa sees the real Quilloughby and the Snuffs in concert, she’s alarmed to discover he’s a carnivorous xenophobe.
After the episode, Morrissey’s manager Peter criticized Katsis The Simpsons – via the songwriter’s Facebook page – for “trying to take advantage of cheap controversies and spreading vicious rumors.” He also condemned the portrayal of Quilloghby (who he described as the “Morrissey character”) as a “racist”, without pointing out specific cases. (Fox and The Simpsons did not immediately return a request for comment.)
In a subsequent interview Katsis said Rolling stone“It’s funny that none of the stories talk about the fake images or anything The Simpsons did. The Simpsons claim it’s a composition by several artists – so of course we’re not suing them. What no one is talking about is how offensive it really is. The man is still a super vegan. His belief in animal rights has brought him this far. “
Katsis said they are not currently planning legal action, but will “certainly look at options.”
In his lengthy letter on Monday, Morrissey noted that he does not have a “determined business team of legal practitioners ready to attack,” adding, “I think this is widely understood and the reason why I being attacked so carelessly and loudly. You are especially despised when your music influences people in a strong and beautiful way, since music is no longer needed. In fact, the worst thing you can do in 2021 is to give a little force to it lives of others. There is no place in modern music for someone with strong emotions. “
Later in his note, the singer wrote that music “and the world in general” has become an “enchanting mess” and that “freedom of speech no longer exists”. “I’ve gotten enough disgust that would kill a herd of bison,” he wrote. “Accusations usually come from someone with an insane desire for importance; they are not operating at a very high level. To write for The SimpsonsFor example, apparently only requires complete ignorance. But all these things are too easy for me to say. In a world obsessed with hate laws, there are none that protect me. “
Katsis further commented on the “Simpsons bullshit ”Monday evening via Morrissey’s Facebook.
“Why did Cumberbatch agree to play this voiceover performance with the Morrissey character?” He wrote. Could he be so hard on money that he agrees to rap another artist that hard? It was clear he had read the schedule or script before taking part in the performance. Could he actually be such a big bastard as the people on the [Simpsons] writing team? and the FOX team? Apparently. Maybe he should say something and tell his side about this. Does he even have enough balls to do that? “
A Cumberbatch representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.