Morrissey Sparks Ire After Defending Spacey, Weinstein

The sexually ambiguous pop star is known for being a contrarian, but defending an alleged rapist and a man accused of preying on a 14-year-old was too far for some.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

November 20 2017 1:56 PM EST

November 20 2017 2:48 PM EST

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Promoting his new album with an interview in the German publication Der Spiegel, Morrissey decided to weigh in on the harassment and assault scandals rocking the world. Maybe he shouldn't have.

Morrissey first blamed the parents of Anthony Rapp for allowing their 14-year-old son to be alone with a grown man -- Rapp alleges Spacey climbed on top of him and attempted to seduce him at a party when the former actor was only 14 and Spacey was 26. Then, Morrissey blamed Rapp himself.

"I don't know about you, but in my youth, I was never in situations like that," said the British singer, who alternatively describes himself as bisexual, humasexual (in love with humans), and celibate. "When you're in somebody's bedroom, you have to be aware of where that can lead to. That's why it does not sound very credible to me. It seems to me that Spacey has been attacked unnecessarily."

He added that throughout history "almost everone is guilty of sleeping with minors. Why not throw everyone in jail right away?"

Morrissey also found time to blame the nearly 80 women who've claimed disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein harassed, groped, or raped them.

"People know exactly what's going on and they play along," he said. "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... But in many cases, one looks at the circumstances and thinks that the person who is considered a victim is merely disappointed."