It appears as though former Smiths frontman Morrissey has officially sued an internet troll who has been allegedly harassing him for the better part of a decade. The singer launched legal action against the individual, citing a “decades-long” campaign that aimed to defame Morrissey’s image.
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According to reports, the singer has employed the help of a UK law firm called Levy & McRae to pursue legal action against the individual in question. The troll has allegedly posted “distressing, harmful, and libelous” content about Morrissey on an “almost daily basis.” The person behind the online account has not been publicly named.
A cease and desist letter has been sent to the troll, according to Morrisey’s legal team. The person in question also contacted the singer physically through handwritten notes left at his home in England. The act was allegedly captured on security cameras. His legal team has said that the physical contact had put Morrissey’s family “at substantial risk of physical and emotional harm.”
The Alleged Troll Has Been Harassing Morrisey for Years, According to His Lawyers
The legal team also alleges that the perpetrator has misquoted and manipulated information about Morrissey online. This was done to associate the singer with far-right politics. The law firm notes that such content perpetuates a “harmful global narrative that is inaccurate, defamatory and has driven the media to repeat these falsehoods.”
A letter penned by Morrissey’s legal team describes the singer as a “[someone who] has never joined a political party or voted.”
Levy & McRae have since made it clear that the troll in question must completely cease all communication with the singer. They must also cease any online content creation involving him. The legal team also noted that the cease and desist follows a “wide-reaching investigation” into the perpetrator’s conduct. This was done with the help of online security agency Web Sheriff. They allege that the individuals’ campaign against Morrissey online has gone on for years and possibly even decades.
Web Sheriff noted that they identified an individual “of interest.” They also believe that the campaign against Morrissey may involve multiple people.
“The purpose of the fraud appears to be aimed at supporting the perpetrators of racist and far-right ideology by falsely associating an influential artist with their diatribe,” Web Sheriff’s statement reads.
Morrissey is still expected to launch his 2025 world tour this month, starting in the United States.
Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images
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