Opinion by Fiona Dodwell

IN A CRUEL TWIST OF FATE, one of the most liberal and forward-thinking stars of the modern music world has been constantly misrepresented in the press. In fact, few outside of his diehard fanbase know the truth behind who Morrissey is, as an artist. The unrelenting media has significantly warped many people’s perception of what Morrissey stands for, which is a huge injustice to a man who, by rights, should be regarded as one of the spearheads of our societal values in 2024. He was leading the way before many even knew which direction we should be heading.

In a music career spanning an amazing four decades, Morrissey has rarely – if ever – taken the easy path. Rather than sit back and enjoy the accumulation of his musical successes, he has unflinchingly tackled some of the world’s most significant issues and injustices head on. Were it not for a press who seemed deadly intent on distorting Morrissey’s character over recent years, he would be rightly hailed as a figurehead in 2024, a personification of everything we say we hold dear. Instead, he is often labelled as divisive or controversial; a sly way of packaging the truth in a negative light.

In this so-called era of the “woke” it seems utterly inexplicable to his fans across the world that Morrissey, of all artists, should be so often misjudged and misunderstood. He has always been at the cutting-edge, never afraid to tell it as it is – a refreshing and rare thing in the entertainment world.

To see exactly how far ahead of his time Morrissey is, and how exactly he broke down gender stereotypes, one need look no further than his impact on animal rights and the meat-free diet. There is clearly an unfair judgement on men who are animal lovers and who embrace a meat-free diet, as evidenced by studies that indicate that men on “vegan diets are perceived as less masculine.” Males are often mocked for animal rights activism and veganism, as if this somehow belongs to the realm of the feminine. Morrissey made this a very human issue – genderless.

Since the early days of his career, Morrissey has been an outspoken proponent of the vegetarian/vegan diet, eagerly promoting the lifestyle in both lyrics and interviews, even when the topic was not met with warm reception. With the Quorn meat-alternative company only starting in the mid 80s, and the Linda McCartney vegetarian food range available only from the early 90s, Morrissey was way ahead of his time through famously promoting a diet that diminished animal cruelty and offered an alternative lifestyle. He made it okay to point out the violence of the meat industry in the public forum, instead of placating audiences who were perhaps too comfortable with their dietary choices. With the world quickly developing a stronger moral compass towards our treatment of animals, it is strange that the press overlook the fact that Morrissey was, and is, one of the leading figures of the animal-rights movement.

Today, it is quite acceptable to discuss the delicate issues surrounding relationships, sex and gender stereotyping, however this was not always a welcome subject in the public arena. This has never stopped Morrissey. He was ready for the discussion decades ago. From the early days with The Smiths when Morrissey would stand, slender and sensual, clutching onto flowers whilst taking centre stage, to the frank lyrics contained in I Am Not a Man (from the World Peace is None of Your Business album) he has not been held captive to any gender archetype himself, which has given inspiration to his legions of fans…

“Cold hand, ice man
Warring caveman
Well if this is what it takes to describe
I’m not a man
Wheeler, dealer
Mover, shaker
Casanova
Beefaroni, but lonely
Well if this what it takes to describe
I’m not a man, I’m not a man….”

There was a time when Morrissey allegedly chose to be celibate. “I’m writing this to say, in a gentle way, thank you but no/I will live my life as I will undoubtfully die – alone,” he sang in 1990 track, Will Never Marry. In the 90’s, many hailed Kurt Cobain as the anthesis rockstar archetype, but there’s nothing more contrary to the toxic masculinity which permeated the alternative music scene so staunchly than a male rockstar who says he isn’t interested in sex.

Looking at those lyrics and beyond, to the human Morrissey, who refused to live up to the archetype of the alpha-male rockstar, promoting a lifestyle of excess, groupies, sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, it is evident without much digging that Morrissey has not ever aligned himself with the expected, and has instead opened the doors for those after him to not only tackle these issues but to celebrate the liberation of those who once felt hidden because of these sensitive topics.

Not stopping there, Morrissey has often been a voice bringing light to mental health and the impact of bullying. It’s not a secret to anyone that bullying happens, and for some, the school years are the hardest. At a time in our world when people are encouraged to be themselves and to speak up when they are being targeted, bullied or mistreated, there is still a stigma attached to men and boys admitting when they are victims. Many men are frightened to speak up, in case they are perceived as “weak.” It couldn’t be further from the truth, of course.

Morrissey has been far-ahead of the game. Outspoken about his hellish years at school at the hands of certain teachers (he explores this in his book, Autobiography) and comfortable with being honest about how bullying and mistreatment at school effected him, he even went on to pen a song rumoured to be about his early years – You Have Killed Me, which is seen as an anthem by many fans who also experienced hard times at school.

The media seem to slander anyone who does not fit the dot-to-dot prerequisite for palatable reading, and Morrissey has faced backlash after backlash in the press. Bullying and its subsequent effects has not silenced the real Morrissey, however. Instead it has birthed in him a view of life that is alien to some, but exquisite to those who have experienced similar suffering – there is healing in art and solace to be found.

In this age of Woke, of social media, of mental health awareness and moral panic, it is figures like Morrissey who are actively trying to push boundaries and break down unhealthy barriers. That Morrissey has repeatedly faced backlash for trying to pull our thoughts in the right direction, seems perplexing and ironic all at once. Yet as an artist, he stands firm, resolute. Sometimes being on the right side of history is difficult, but for those who understand the true value, we know it is worth it.

2024 has seen the singer finally get his hands back on the rights to his unreleased album, Bonfire of Teenagers (a project that had been left to gather dust by Capitol Records), giving fans once again the hope that a label will release the project. Whatever the future holds for that album – or for Morrissey’s future releases – one thing seems certain: he will continue to tackle the truth, he will continue to push against societal confines, even if it makes us uncomfortable. For that, his fans are grateful. One day, many more – even those who do not see it now – will be thankful for the unrepentant Morrissey and what he truly represents.