Morrissey interview + Polaroid photo in German Spiegel magazine

"Ich bin für Klartext" - Spiegel Online

(Excerpt before paywall via Google Translate)

Morrissey's worldview "I'm for plain text"

"Morrissey praises the Brexit referendum, defends Kevin Spacey and calls Berlin a "rape capital" because of its open borders. seriously?"

Whether the Briton Steven Patrick Morrissey, 58, a musician just Morrissey calls, now Genius is or Schrat, self-actor or choleric poet, will probably never settle final. Certainly the man from Manchester, who became famous in the eighties as a singer of pop band The Smiths, is a great eccentric of pop. Whether concert or interview, he maintains the pose of the diva. The meeting took place on the occasion of his new album "Low in High School" in Los Angeles; It was arranged at very short notice and then postponed several times, domination gestures want to be maintained. After all, Morrissey is ready to talk. However, the photographer is referred by one of his managers rude of the room: "Get out of my hotel!" The Polaroid photo was taken by the interviewer.

An interview with Juliane Liebert

SPIEGEL: Mr Morrissey, in your new song "Spent the Day in Bed", you recommend that you no longer see any news. A serious proposal?

Morrissey: Yes. People should stop doing so for their own sanity. You have to stop. The news is just social engineering, and it's about control, not information. There are no more messages. Only control.

SPIEGEL: That sounds like Trump's fake news, but you just spoke out against Trump at a concert.

Morrissey: Trump has received so much attention, especially when compared to other candidates - Bernie Sanders, for example. Although the media said he will not win, every day, all the headlines: Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump! The American media helped Trump, yes, they first created it. Whether they criticize him or laugh at him, he does not care, he just wants to see his picture and his name. The American media have shot themselves in the leg. Since he was in power, he has exhausted the world. He grabs after everything like a little child. He is not a leader. He is a vermin. A huge vermin.

SPIEGEL: Do you think that he will be re-elected?

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Full transcript (Google Translate to English), original German text posted by Cornflakes

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Media coverage:

• Morrissey Defends Kevin Spacey, Calls the Accusations Against Him ‘Ridiculous’ - IndieWire. Link posted by No1uno.
  
• Morrissey Defends Kevin Spacey And Harvey Weinstein, Saying Victims Should’ve Known What Could Happen - Stereogum. Link posted by an anonymous person.
• Morrissey had some dumb shit to say in defense of Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein - Consequence of Sound. Link posted by Famous when dead.
  
• Morrissey Appears To Victim Blame Those Allegedly Sexually Abused By Kevin Spacey And Harvey Weinstein - UPROXX. Link posted by Famous when dead.
• Morrissey calls Kevin Spacey claims 'not credible' in latest attempt to say something controversial - International Business Times. Link posted by Brummieboy.
  
• Morrissey comments on Hollywood sexual abuse scandal, says some victims are 'just disappointed' - The Independent. Link posted by an anonymous person.
  
• Shirley Manson (Garbage) Attacks Morrissey For Defending K.Spacey & H.Weinstein - Alternative Nation - Nov. 19, 2017
  
• Morrissey defends Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein - BBC News. Link posted by Famous when dead (original post). Excerpt:
  
  The BBC contacted Morrissey's representatives for a response to Der Spiegel's report, but were informed he would not be making any further comments.
  
• UK politician Leanne Wood weighs in Morrissey position over Spacey accusations - Nov. 20, 2017
  
• Morrissey's fans are not happy about his Kevin Spacey comments - mic.com - Nov. 21, 2017
  
• Morrissey says Der Spiegel last print interview he will do; suggests words weren't said - Nov. 26, 2017
• Morrissey: I'd Kill Donald Trump for the 'Safety of Humanity' - Breitbart, NME, Washington Times - Nov. 27, 2017
  
• Juliane Liebert (Der Spiegel interviewer): "The recording [of the interview] is available" - Nov. 28, 2017
• Morrissey statement: "The Slander System" (via FB Morrissey Official) - Dec. 11, 2017
• Der Spiegel audio "to be released in the next days" - Juliane Liebert tweet - Dec. 11, 2017
• Der Spiegel audio file of Morrissey interview released - Dec. 12, 2017
  
• "Oh Sigh" - Morrissey Central posts link to Der Spiegel fraudulent journalist Claas Relotius - Dec. 20, 2018
  
• styxhexenhammer666 video on Der Spiegel journalist fraud - link posted on Morrissey Central - Dec. 23, 2018
  

 

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when you live in a bubble for decades, only occasionally visited by ass-kissers, with tv and internet as your only connection to the world.

I feel somewhat betrayed for dedicating 20 years of fandom to him. What the hell happened?

 

[g23]

think he would fall under the category of an artist/a human being that feels too much and so doesn't make much sense to ordinary 'logical' 'just the facts please' folks. 'Plain text' and politics are not his forte but still, with heart on his sleeve he seems to be barreling through head first. Very dangerous and brave his form of self sabotage.

See, when something is not my forte, I tend to remain silent, or examine it from many different sides. It's a very teenaged way of responding to situations to make bold pronouncements like he does. I don't know if brave is the word so much as uncommon, or socially inept.

I've also long suspected him of falling somewhere along the autism spectrum, and this would explain a lot of his interactions with the world. I still think he needs better P.R. to assist him in filtering. The thing that made me saddest about this interview is the fact that it's the first time in a long while that it took place with a human instead of an email, and it went rather tits up. I wonder if the email interviews are at the request of his PR so he can better parse his words, and have a filter in place to avoid international incidents.

No matter what, for good or bad, he is fascinating in ways that no other musician has even come close to.

 

[Cornflakes]

https://www.avclub.com/morrissey-has-some-stupid-shit-to-say-about-sexual-assa-1820574028

The translation of the interview comes from a user named Cornflakes on Morrissey-Solo, so it is a little iffy

I think I feel a libel action coming on...

 

[Anonymous]

The thing that made me saddest about this interview is the fact that it's the first time in a long while that it took place with a human instead of an email, and it went rather tits up. I wonder if the email interviews are at the request of his PR so he can better parse his words, and have a filter in place to avoid international incidents.

The 'email interviews only' policy came about from Morrissey, as he felt that he had been stitched up by the NME, and journalists were printing things he didn't actually say. With emails, he has a record, so he can easily sue if they print something incorrect. I do feel that he can be a bit more guarded in print as well, and take his time more over the answers, which is to his benefit - as in person, politically incorrect views can just...slip out. As they repeatedly seem to do.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

See, when something is not my forte, I tend to remain silent, or examine it from many different sides. It's a very teenaged way of responding to situations to make bold pronouncements like he does. I don't know if brave is the word so much as uncommon, or socially inept.

I've also long suspected him of falling somewhere along the autism spectrum, and this would explain a lot of his interactions with the world. I still think he needs better P.R. to assist him in filtering. The thing that made me saddest about this interview is the fact that it's the first time in a long while that it took place with a human instead of an email, and it went rather tits up. I wonder if the email interviews are at the request of his PR so he can better parse his words, and have a filter in place to avoid international incidents.

No matter what, for good or bad, he is fascinating in ways that no other musician has even come close to.

'See, when something is not my forte, I tend to remain silent, or examine it from many different sides'

yes, we are who we are.

'It's a very teenaged way of responding to situations to make bold pronouncements like he does.'

teenagers can be pretty insightful and be teachers to so called 'adults'. But I agree with what you're saying. People here forget he speaks with his heart/emotions, which in this world usually ends in trouble.

'uncommon, or socially inept.'

yes to the grave, maybe he'll 'fit in' in the next world. No love here.

'No matter what, for good or bad, he is fascinating in ways that no other musician has even come close to.'

too true.

 

[Anonymous]

One point he forgot to mention, it's only the ugly guys that are getting accused of sexual assault. George Clooney shoved me in a corner and tore my pants off, that was my latest fantasy. Never trust ugly guys.

 

[Johnny Barleycorn]

M is not condoning sexual assault and states that clearly in answers to two of the questions.

I think he is just stating and not justify it as a good thing, that people both male and female will use their sexuality to manipulate in order to further their careers. No breaking news there.

Isn’t it alleged that Weinstein offered a very famous actress an Oscar in return for certain favours and she subsequently won an Oscar, to the surprise of many commentators?

 

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when you live in a bubble for decades, only occasionally visited by ass-kissers, with tv and internet as your only connection to the world.

I feel somewhat betrayed for dedicating 20 years of fandom to him. What the hell happened?

You know what - Moz hasnt changed at all. He's had these views and been saying these things for 30 - 40 years. It is mainstream 'opinion' - as permeated via social media and television - that has changed and become increasingly uniform and homogeneous - and clearly Moz's views are aberrant in the context of the mainstream. But if you want mainstream - choose a different artist. He's an outsider - and always will be.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course it's Berlin. Gimme a f***ing break.
http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Crime/Rape-rate

https://www.wonderslist.com/10-countries-highest-rape-crime/

Wonderslist LOL WtF why not cite twitter? LOL
Well Fck, if you, Skinny and "wonderlist" says so it must be true. Id like you to put you and Skinny in Daisy Dukes and force job around certain choice areas in Berlin LOL

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, you first year Freudian fellator and your flimsy received wisdom, "shaven caves" aren't my idea of a spicy Friday night, I assure you.

Me thinks the lady doth protest too much...

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Isn’t it alleged that Weinstein offered a very famous actress an Oscar in return for certain favours and she subsequently won an Oscar, to the surprise of many commentators?

i really don't know much about the Weinstein accusations or stories. But I think you are confirming what I stated in my post?

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Morrissey! Don't fret. This one's a slow-burn but your trolling may yet result in the media fire-storm you want/need to boost insipid sales of your latest car-crash of an album...


Morrissey has some stupid shit to say about sexual assault and more

These days, it should be generally accepted that getting Morrissey’s take on current events is a bad idea for everyone involved, since he usually ends up saying something bad and we’re all left to try and parse his weird political takes. So, it should be wholly unsurprising that a recent interview Morrissey gave to German news outlet Spiegel Online features him saying some gloomy stuff about Donald Trump, walking back his pro-Brexit stance a bit, and then suggesting that Kevin Spacey has been “unnecessarily attacked.” In other words: Hold on, Morrissey fans, because this one’s a ride.

https://www.avclub.com/morrissey-has-some-stupid-shit-to-say-about-sexual-assa-1820574028

http://www.huffingtonpost.de/2017/11/18/morrissey-spiegel-deutschland-merkel-_n_18586666.html

Touché m8!

The asinine thing is that there are actually real people - right f***ing here - who hold him to simultaneous deity and political theory posts. If you’re one of those people, you’re carrying dead-weight between your ears that’s dropping humanity like a set of 30lb down-riggers.

If you - for ONE f***ING SECOND - buy into Steve-O’s fear, loathing, contradiction, hypocrisy and “rich ponce - living abroad” ignorance...

...You’re a blight on humanity. GFYS, ISOS.

 

[Anonymous]

Isn’t it alleged that Weinstein offered a very famous actress an Oscar in return for certain favours and she subsequently won an Oscar, to the surprise of many commentators?

Yea, if you got the part you aint complaining.
Everything that went down was cool. Nothing untoward took place LOL

 

[firsttodie]

Sorry to be off topic, but can someone tell me how to post replies and quotes, and also how to rate posts? I'm using an X Box and am wondering if this is the problem?

 

[001]

Does your console display replies like this ftd?

I'm guessing it doesn't? If not can't you use your phone?

 

[Gaetano]

'I didn't expect that a hard turn into far right politics would make me queasy.'

yes, like him supporting Ross Perot and Bernie Sanders, and saying in LOTL '"We never have Anne Sexton or James Baldwin types running the country. They'd make far too much sense."

Don't forget that he also praised George Galloway and called Jeremy Corbyn "sane" and "intelligent"

 

[Thewlis]

Not to mention Oscar Wilde, who was also keen on underage boys

 

[firsttodie]

No it's a different format, 001. I don't have a mobile either. Oh well, thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

1. Morrissey thinks eating animals is the same as the Holocaust.
2. Morrissey thinks that trying to f*** a 14 year old is no big deal, and wants to blame the parents instead.
3. Morrissey thinks that aggressive sexual advances that occur in someone's bedroom when those advances are declined, is their own fault.
4. Morrissey thinks that Germany is the rape capital of the world because of immigrants.
5. Morrissey thinks music artists f***ing 15 year olds in the past was normal. Nothing to see there.

.

'1. Morrissey thinks eating animals is the same as the Holocaust.'

don't think he said exactly that.

'2. Morrissey thinks that trying to f*** a 14 year old is no big deal, and wants to blame the parents instead.'

he never said he 'thinks that trying to f*** a 14 year old is no big deal', sorry he did not say that. And he does not blame the parents, he does seem to question the responsibilities of the parents. And he does question the 14 year old's judgment based on his own awareness at the age of 14. Though it's easy to read his answer as him saying that it was Rapp's fault for being there in the first place, I don't read his answer as him saying that, I do read it as him saying that he at 14 years of age would have had more sense not to put himself in that same situation. He is not condoning Spacey's actions. But then again it does look bad if in his answer he does not condemn Spacey's actions. But does he or anyone really need to? I think he assumes as we all do that that statement goes without having to be said.

'3. Morrissey thinks that aggressive sexual advances that occur in someone's bedroom when those advances are declined, is their own fault.'

he did not say that. He is pointing out that people of both sexes use their sexuality to manipulate in order to further their careers. And I think we can all agree that that is not only wrong, but can in itself go wrong.

'4. Morrissey thinks that Germany is the rape capital of the world because of immigrants.'

I have no idea where he or people are getting this information from to come to that conclusion. I do think he bites off more than he can chew when it comes to politics. But, freedom of speech and all that.

'5. Morrissey thinks music artists f***ing 15 year olds in the past was normal. '

He does not say he thinks that it was normal. He is saying it was normal to the 'artists' to do that at that time, not right or wrong, just unfortunately the accepted norm to those 'artists' at that time.

 

[nicky wire's legs]

'5. Morrissey thinks music artists f***ing 15 year olds in the past was normal. '

He is saying it was normal to the 'artists' to do that at that time, not right or wrong, just unfortunately the accepted norm to those 'artists' at that time.

and also a lot of these artists were on drugs at the time and maybe didnt know what they were doing and, also, probably werent asking ages. i remember this dumb girl at work telling me that about the 15 year old, just after david bowie died and i had just confessed how upset i was about it, as though this was proof that david bowie was a really bad character with a taste for fifteen year olds. it does nothing of the sort. if david bowie was into underage girls you would hear from far more than people than just one. and it's not like david bowie went out on the prowl expressly looking for some young girl. she probably just happened to be there. not that any of that makes it right, but it certainly doesnt make him a predator or pederast or anything like that.