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Morrissey Sparks Racism Accusations with Chinese Slurs

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Morrissey has ignited yet another racism row following some emotional comments towards the Chinese during an interview. The outspoken former Smiths frontman was being interviewed by the poet Simon Armitage for the Guardian Weekend magazine when the topic turned to animal rights, leading the singer to call the Chinese "a subspecies" for their alleged cruelty to animals.

The full quote was: "Did you see the thing on the news about their treatment of animals and animal welfare? Absolutely horrific. You can't help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies."

This is not the first time that Morrissey has courted controversy with apparently xenophobic or racist remarks, though it is the most overtly provocative of his pronouncements on the subject. In his early solo career, the Manchester-born performer was criticised by music critics and others for songs such as 'Bengali in Platforms' -- which focuses on an immigrant character and includes the oft-cited lyric "Bengali, Bengali / Oh, shelve your Western plans / And understand / That life is hard enough when you belong here" -- and 'National Front Disco.'

Around the period of the latter track, which appeared on 1992's 'Your Arsenal' and somewhat ambiguously commemorates a protagonist who has joined the titular '70s and '80s far right group, the NME ran a long feature asking if Morrissey was "flirting with disaster" -- citing the aforementioned songs and others, the singer's use of the Union Jack and skinhead imagery on stage and in photos, and interview quotes such as "all reggae is vile."

In 2008, Morrissey donated £28,000 to the Love Music Hate Racism campaign after sparking more controversy with an NME interview in which he opined on immigration using inflammatory phrases like "England is a memory now" and "the gates are flooded". With this latest statement, however, the anti-racism group has disavowed the iconic vocalist.

"It really is just crude racism," said spokesperson Martin Smith. "When you start using language like 'subspecies', you are entering into dark and murky water. I don't think we would, or could, ask him to come back after that."

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DAVID LAVERY

RACHEL, YOU ARE TALKING SENSE AND SADLY YOU ARE RIGHT.
THE CHINESE ARE CRUEL AND ITS A FACT. PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE WITH YOU BUT THEY ARE WRONG. I KNOW IT AND SO DO YOU.TAKE NO NOTICE OF THEM.

September 17 2010 at 7:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rachel

You Tube, type in animal slaughter in china and watch any of the hundreds of videos on there, Jeff and Simon. Wake up, then wake up and do your research before telling people they are talking crap. I think you'll realise you are trying to defend something very, very bad.

September 17 2010 at 4:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gus

In context, out of context... the man's proven himself a miserable bigot over and over and over again. There are ways to make a political point without denigrating entire races of people.

September 16 2010 at 9:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eli

Can anyone honestly say that they aren't even a little racist? Everyone's a little racist and everyone's a little gay.So there.
Also, he is obviously saying this out of anger and nothing more. Lord, if everyone had to make sure nothing they said would offend anyone...we'd be mutes.
Also, I hope PETA drops Moz as well because they are a terrorist organization. It irks me that my beloved Moz promotes them.

September 10 2010 at 1:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DAVID LAVERY

I SIGHN PETITIONS AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY ON CARE 2 AND I HAVE COME TO HAVE A STRONG HATRED OF THE CHINESE, THEY ARE SADISTIC AND BACKWARD, TORTURING ANIMALS IN THE WORST WAYS THEY CAN THINK OF, TORTURING THEM IN ZOOS, AND THEN THE CRUEL WAY THEY ARE WITH LITTLE GIRLS, I THINK THE BASTARDS ARE SICK AND THERE SHOULD BE A BOYCOTT TO STOP PEOPLE VISITING CHINA UNILL THEY LEARN TO STOP BEHAVING LIKE SAVAGES.

September 06 2010 at 6:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to DAVID LAVERY's comment
Rachel

Agree entirely, there needs to be some serious education over there, it's a sick country, I don't know why people visit or buy anything made there. Well, actually I do, it's because it's cheap and a lot of people don't care to find out about what they do and if they do discover what goes on there they choose not to believe. Or they don't care. I wish more people had a conscience.

September 17 2010 at 4:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
levi

Bengali should shelve his western plans because it is hard enough when you belong here. Bengali would agree with moz on that one and shake his hand.Moz was telling it how it was in 88 and still is in 2010.

September 06 2010 at 6:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
levi

where's my brilliant comment gone which was replied to by richard the dick? anyway i am the last of the famous international playboys.

September 06 2010 at 6:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
users3247

a lot of people critisizing the chinese here have almost certainly, at least once in their life, would have used, or are going to use a gadget or electrical appliance or perhaps have worn an item of clothing made in that country. just for the record, i'm british with malaysian parents, and i willingly pay my dues and taxes here in this country. i'm not saying the chinese are perfect. they have a bad human rights records, especially with regards to tibet, human rights abuses in their own mainland and their support for the burmese and north korean regimes. all i'm saying is people should look at their own lifestyles, in particular what they use and eat, before throwing too many stones at the chinese

September 06 2010 at 6:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Beccie

Im chinese and I have never been cruel to any animals. Dont be so stereotypical. Open your minds up, Losers.
Oh and Racist people? ... DROP DEAD.

September 06 2010 at 5:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
akadiri

I don't know who the hell these so called celebrities think they are slagging off a whole race of people, an entire civilization that obviously exceeds his limited intellect and understanding, just because he objects to their treatment of animals. Who does this twerp think he is; just because he's made a few records. Ignorant git!

September 06 2010 at 5:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply