Morrissey begins legal action against online troll for “decades-long” defamation and “harmful global narrative”

Morrissey has begun legal action against an alleged online troll, a response attributed to a “decades-long” defamation campaign targeted at him.

Music Business Worldwide obtained a cease-and-desist letter dated March 31, 2025, as reported yesterday (April 3), and it reveals Morrissey has hired law firm Levy & McRae to take action against an individual based in UK, who is accused of posting “distressing, harmful and libellous” content about the artist over multiple social media accounts.

The letter, addressed to the individual, accuses them of publishing “an enormous amount of material about our client on an almost daily basis and, in turn, multiple times per day”. Additionally, the individual allegedly “left and/or posted written notes at and to” Morrissey’s home – these actions are claimed to have been captured on CCTV.

The firm clarified that the matter has already been reported to the police.

“The narrative of your posts almost exclusively relates to ‘far right’ politics, and in particular, those politics which are the antithesis of our client and what he has always stood for and represented,” the letter read, describing Morrissey as “a pacifist, apolitical” person who has “never joined a political party or voted”.

The letter also accused the alleged perpetrator of extending the accusations of far-right sympathies towards Morrissey’s family members. “You are creating and perpetuating a harmful global narrative that is inaccurate, defamatory and has driven the media to repeat these falsehoods,” the letter continued.

Global online protection firm Web Sheriff shared with Music Business Weekly that they had completed a wide-reaching investigation into what is described as a “decades-long campaign of fraud, disinformation, and defamation” towards Morrissey.

“A person of interest” has been identified, Web Sheriff said in a statement, and that additional perpetrators “in both Britain and Europe, as well as the United States” are expected to be identified imminently as well.

Morrissey has attracted criticism over the years for his political stances and support for controversial far-right, anti-Islam political party For Britain, which he previously wore a badge for during a 2019 television appearance.

Despite provoking controversy with his views – something which former bandmate Johnny Marr said “cast a shadow over The Smiths” – the frontman has insisted that he is not far right.

Last November, he claimed he was prevented from releasing new music due to a war on “free speech” where “you cannot speak freely in England”, and that “you’ll be sent to prison” for expressing an opinion, he told audiences at a New Jersey concert.

In the past, he has described the Chinese people as a “subspecies”, has referred to Hitler as ‘left wing’ and claimed that London Mayor Sadiq Khan “can not talk properly”.

After being criticised for supporting English Defence League Founder Tommy Robinson, he issued a statement in which he said he “despised racism and fascism” and voiced his support for Muslims.

The post Morrissey begins legal action against online troll for “decades-long” defamation and “harmful global narrative” appeared first on NME.