Morrissey took issue with the depiction of his character
The former Smiths frontman is no stranger to controversy or coming out with kooky corkers, but as far his all-time quotes go, this is certainly up there with one of his most ironic yet. For a man now more infamous for offending others these days than he is his music, he doesn’t half sound, well, offended…
Morrissey’s official Facebook page posted a statement in response to The Simpson latest episode, ‘Panic on the Streets of Springfield’. In the post, not only does he take fire at the show for his less than favourable portrayal but for being “unapologetically hurtful and racist.”
https://www.facebook.com/Morrissey/posts/304857347667167
The episode which aired on the 19th of April features a character called ‘Quilloughby’ – Lisa’s imaginary friend who was also voiced by guest star, Benedict Cumberbatch.
As you can see below, whatever you make of the satire itself, it’s hardly subtle and it would seem that Morrissey thinks so too. His press team’s statement is one that starts out by hailing the show for once “creating great insight into the modern cultural experience”, but that it has since degenerated to capitalising on “cheap controversy” and “harshly hateful tactics”.
Morrissey has blasted The Simpsons for portraying him as an overweight racist who eats meat: https://t.co/KtCIRb8ktb pic.twitter.com/Aj2dfyVqHG
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) April 19, 2021
The 61-year-old also remarked that as well as insinuating that he is a racist “without pointing out any specific instances”, it is themselves who “should take that mirror and hold it up to themselves”.
He goes on to point towards Hank Azaria’s portrayal of the Indian character, Apu, specifically – the actor himself has said publicly that he often feels he needs “to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise”.
While the episode starts out depicting a more youthful cartoon of a stylish Indie singer, by the end, they opt for a full-on caricature of a more overtly obvious, older Morrissey, who eats meat on stage and fires sausage links from a cannon into the crowd.
Safe to say, we don’t expect to be him to be singing ‘That’s Entertainment’ about The Simpsons anytime soon.
