Arts

Heaven knows Morrissey doesn’t seem that miserable about the latest drama to engulf him, emphatically denying claims that he asked a former employee to physically hurt the webmaster of a site that criticized him.

The singer said the story was a “vexatious lie” from a “desperate” person who had been trying to extract money from his tour.’

Morrissey was speaking after TMZ reported that the bodyguard, Bradley Steyn, had filed a lawsuit, after he refused to “hurt” David Tseng, who runs morissey-solo.com, a fansite Morrissey dislikes. Morrissey’s tour manager allegedly asked Steyn how Tseng “could be gotten rid of.” Then, according to TMZ, they discussed how to get Tseng’s home address.

The former Smiths frontman had hired Steyn as a bodyguard, Steyn said, after a concert in San Jose where Morrissey was knocked to the ground following a crowd surge.

At True To You, an online fanzine devoted to him, the singer mounted a stinging attack on Steyn:

I cannot admit to actually “knowing” Bradley Steyn. Yes, I am aware that he is South African and that he lives in Los Angeles, and that he has ‘walked off’ three Morrissey tours—which really is his own business, not mine. My personal involvement with him has been zero, and he has certainly never been Head Of Security on any Morrissey tour.”

I am aware of the false story he has placed on various news sites wherein he claims I asked him to “hurt” (kill?) David Tseng. Although Steyn’s story lends itself to its own ridicule, I feel I must say to those who have not yet worked it out, that the story is a vexatious lie.

It is common knowledge that I dislike the SoLow site, and I am aware that all of the opinions posted on the site are controlled or written by David Tseng, and that David Tseng will give maximum and inexhaustive publicity to anything said in the negative about me. This is a general truth that most people accept about SoLow. It is nothing new, and I have long since learned to accept it.

The very idea that I would ask a complete stranger (Bradley Steyn) to physically attack David Tseng surely cannot register with any sane person as being likely. As mildly irritating as David Tseng may be, he is not someone who troubles me enough to even bother with.

The shabby truth of this drama is that Bradley Steyn has been trying to extract money from what he terms ‘the Morrissey tour’, and he has failed. He is now desperate, and this story is his latest escapade to gain someone’s attention. What he is telling the world is that, as a music venue security officer, anyone who works with him in the future should expect the same harassment and persecution as he is now—mysteriously—wielding my way. It is beyond belief, and it is shocking that someone who makes claims of professionalism would lower himself to this level.

Please note that Bradley Steyn’s statement is now in the hands of the Los Angeles Police Department, and is subject to both criminal and civil action.

Today, Tseng posted on Morrissey-solo.com: “I appreciate everyon’s concern. I don’t know any details about the actual incidents that may have taken place.” He told Yahoo Music: “It’s not every day that you get threatened by a pop star or he puts out a hit on you. It’s a pretty serious allegation … even criminal, I would think, if it’s true.”

Tseng told Yahoo Music that Morrissey-solo.com published positive and negative stories relating to the singer. “A lot of the negative stuff” published on the site “really bothers” Morrissey, Tseng said, highlighting a past claim posted on the site, allegedly by one of Morrissey’s crew, claiming they hadn’t been paid.