Since the loss of the luminously talented Sinéad O’Connor, a deluge of condolences and tributes have poured in — but The Smiths frontman and perennial provocateur Morrissey isn’t convinced by the sudden admiration.
In a post titled “You Know I Couldn’t last” uploaded to his personal website yesterday, the English singer-songwriter paid tribute to O’Connor, who passed away yesterday at the age of 56.
The title is a reference to one of Morrissey’s own songs, and the content of the message is as much a call-out as a tribute to the late Irish singer and activist.
Morrissey took aim at the the industry and the public figures whom he claimed failed to offer O’Connor the support she needed and deserved while she was still alive, noting that “she was dropped by her label after selling seven million albums for them.”
“There is a certain music industry hatred for singers who don’t ‘fit in,’” he wrote, referencing O’Connor’s controversial past, “and they are never praised until death — when, finally, they can’t answer back.”
The post continued, “The cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinead today … with the usual moronic labels of ‘icon’ and ‘legend’ … You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you.
“She was a challenge, and she couldn’t be boxed-up, and she had the courage to speak when everyone else stayed safely silent. She was harassed simply for being herself. Her eyes finally closed in search of a soul she could call her own. As always, the lamestreamers miss the ringing point, and with unlocked jaws they return to the insultingly stupid ‘icon’ and ‘legend’ when last week words far more cruel and dismissive would have done.”
Morrissey also compared O’Connor to other female stars who were let down by the public in their time: Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Marilyn Monroe, and Billie Holiday.
As has been oft-noted amongst the outpouring of support, O’Connor was long scrutinized for her public criticism of the Catholic church, her mental health struggles, and her rejection of typical avenues to fame (including her 1991 Grammys boycott).
For Morrissey’s part, the singer has long been a fan of O’Connor. In the early 90s, the pair were photographed having tea together by The Smiths singer’s longtime friend Linder Sterling.