Morrissey calls the Chinese "a subspecies"

Morrissey

In an interview with Guardian Weekend, Morrissey made an on-the-record remark about China, calling its treatment of animals "horriffic" and its people "a subspecies":

Did you see the thing on the news about their treatment of animals and animal welfare? Absolutely horrific. You can't help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies.

The longtime animal rights activist was always very vocal about his views and never shied away from public disapproval. There was the seminal 1985 Smiths album Meat is Murder. He was the first person to sample the slaughter of animals in a song (a first of sorts). According to The Guardian, he walked offstage during a performance last year because he smelled cooking meat.

In 2007, he made a large money donation to Music Love Hate Racism after making anti-immigration remarks in NME, and mentioned in Q magazine that black and white people will probably never get along. He's also been accused of using racist imagery in several of his songs.

Whether he meant the "subspecies" comment or not ( I think he did), a spokeperson for Music Love Hate Racism makes a good point:

'It really is just crude racism,' said Martin Smith. 'When you start using language like 'subspecies', you are entering into dark and murky water. I don't think we would, or could, ask him to come back after that.'

Commentarium (8 Comments)

Sep 07 10 - 1:29pm
Dr. Rotcod

As a biologist, I'm upset that he is using the word "subspecies" incorrectly.

Sep 07 10 - 8:52pm
Not a doctor

Is he? I thought our ethnicities were analogous to subspecies, so the Chinese are technically a subspecies as much as Caucasians or Africans are. Oh, what do I know, I'm no biologist.

Sep 08 10 - 12:34am
Hestha

Ballsy

Sep 08 10 - 7:38am
name

holycrap Morrissey is still alive?

Sep 08 10 - 4:08pm
Gman

Ballsy? Please. Let that motherfucker drape himself in the Union Jack and get pelted with beer bottles again.

Sep 08 10 - 8:24pm
Suzanne

Since when did anyone take this whiny bitch seriously?

Sep 18 10 - 3:36pm
blowboy

it's true though. they eat (live) monkey brain, dog, bear-paw, leopard bones, etc etc. an appetite as big as our dwindling (no thanks to them) biodiversity.

Oct 19 11 - 6:43pm
Darwinism

Oh c'mon man! What about all the seafood etc that westerners eat, when the 'majority' of them know many fish species are dwindling year by year. I really hate it when western people go on about some Asian cultures eating dogs, just because we treat them as a pet. All those things they eat are cultural and historical, though yes maybe it would be nice if they reconsidered but then so shouldnt we?
Racist generalisations are not cool!!