Morrissey Compares Queen Elizabeth To Mubarak, Gadaffi, Calls Her A Fascist

Back in the heady days of youthful British revolt and anarchy-inspired punk, bands like the Sex Pistols railed against the Royal Family with regularity, hurling angry, disaffected insults over chords at the Queen and producing thrashing graphic design works to destroy her image, if only on record sleeves and grungy shows and exhibits.

The era of anger has, in large part, passed, with the world tuning into the spectacle of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding earlier this month, the gloss of its fairytale connotations and illustrious history transfixing billions. Still waving the anti-Royal flag, though, was famed Smiths frontman Morrissey, who ripped the institution, saying they served no purpose whatsoever.

Now, weeks later, the rocker is truly taking out the proverbial knives; in a new essay for the website Hot Press, he compared Queen Elizabeth to two of the worst Middle Eastern dictators.

After accusing Elizabeth of supporting the death of workers protesting Margaret Thatcher in the 80's, Morrissey wrote:

The very existence of the Queen and her now enormous family - all supported by the British taxpayer whether the British taxpayer likes it or not - is entirely against any notion of democracy, and is against freedom of speech. For a broad historical view of what the Queen is and how she "rules", examine Gaddafi or Mubarak, and see if you can spot any difference.

He continues on to say that the Queen continues to deny Ireland its freedom, a compelling comment for the Manchester-born Morrisey, who once sang the song "Irish Blood, English Heart."

To read the whole essay, click over to Hot Press.

Comments

[playsindirt]

04:09 PM on 05/23/2011

It's an odd analogy since while the Queen does cost her "subjects" millions of dollars a year in taxation she has no real political authority, does not commit human rights violoations, and is merely an adjunct to an otherwise democratic government. She's not an evil dictator. He did a really bad job of criticizing the institution of monarchy. And I think the royal family is probably a worthwhile institution for Great Britain to maintain. It is the essence of who they are and part of their national identity.

[Vintage59]

11:32 AM on 05/23/2011

When no one will listen to your music any more but your Ego still needs feeding you are reduced to trying to get noticed some other way.

The whining was annoying twenty years ago and doesn't sound any better today. He has no ideas to change the UK. He hasn't even lived there for years.

[Stilyagi]

11:26 AM on 05/23/2011

Morrissey: brilliant and absolutely right as ever. Too bad he's the only major voice these days saying the Queen and her family's got to go.

[anothervoice]

11:07 AM on 05/23/2011

False equivalencies make headlines on the web.

[LisaMarieNyc]

12:00 AM on 05/23/2011

Morrissey needs to chill out!!

[Stilyagi]

11:27 AM on 05/23/2011

....Said the girl from NYC who doesn't have to pay a cent of tax to support the Queen + family.

[LisaMarieNyc]

03:39 AM on 05/25/2011

That's correct I do not, yet there is no rational or intelligent discussion that puts Queen Elizabeth in the same ideological mindset as Gaddafi or Mubarak. Considering how much of my personal tax dollars go to every scamming lazy bloodsucker in my city/country I would rather contribute my tax dollars to the monarchy! And yes, Morrissey is way out of line!!

[Tulka2]

06:06 PM on 05/22/2011

....oh, come now... she's a lot more like Mt. Rushmore the the Brits keep her for the same reason South Dakota likes that "sculpture".  To whit: tourists.  I would guess the trickle-down generated by anglophiles visiting England is a lot more than anything Ronald Reagan ever accomplished for ordinary people.

[geo999]

02:47 PM on 05/22/2011

If a plebiscite were held to determine who should be voted off the island, Morrissey or The Royals, I'd suggest that Morrissey don his water wings.

[Stilyagi]

11:30 AM on 05/23/2011

What exactly have the Royals done to earn their wealth?

[geo999]

12:23 PM on 05/23/2011

I don't recall that being the subject of this discussion.

We are discussing the ramblings of Steve Morrissey, a grown, racist child with loud opinions based on little to no intellect.

[Gus Adaire]

02:43 PM on 05/22/2011

But indeed how true. The queen could abducted by aliens tomorrow and it would do nothing more than cut that expense from England's taxpayers.

[lenuk]

09:20 PM on 05/22/2011

If HM were abducted by aliens, not to return, then Charles would immediately become king.

[dave dee]

01:10 PM on 05/22/2011

guess he can kiss his knighthood bye bye

[rod1948]

07:27 AM on 05/22/2011

The queen owns nineteen percent of the worlds land mass. Thats just wrong.

[Vintage59]

11:34 AM on 05/23/2011

You are correct. That false statistic is bizarre.

[Finnegans Wake]

04:12 PM on 05/23/2011

She does, however, own 19% of the world's ugliest hats.

[al leonard]

02:16 AM on 05/22/2011

Another sad old queen attacking another old Queen.

[Brian Gorrell]

10:15 PM on 05/21/2011

I agree.

[jwb2013]

07:57 PM on 05/21/2011

she and her family are far more terrible than any single dictator.

[melchar]

07:13 PM on 05/21/2011

Free Ireland!

[lenuk]

09:23 PM on 05/22/2011

I think that you'll find that Fine Gael was democratically elected .....

[bubbepenny]

06:50 PM on 05/21/2011

i guess he doesnt realize that she has no influence over the republic of ireland and as far as the north is concerned,, they are welcome to it. big time.
she had a great little visit over here the past few days in case morrissey was on another planet.