Jimmy Fallon Faces Backlash Over Morrissey's Far-Right Pin
Musician Morrissey showed solidarity with a far-right British political party on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday.
The former Smiths frontman wore a pin with the logo of the anti-Islam For Britain as he performed his version of Jobriath’s 1973 song “Morning Starship” from his new covers album “California Son.”
For Britain’s website calls for a reduction of immigration into the United Kingdom, protection of British culture and the “end of the Islamisation of the UK.” Anne Marie Waters, its leader, has previously described Islam as “evil.”
Morrissey opened up about his support for the party in 2018.
He said in an interview published on blog platform Tremr:
I have been following a new party called For Britain which is led by Anne Marie Waters. It is the first time in my life that I will vote for a political party. Finally I have hope. I find the Tory-Labour-Tory-Labour constant switching to be pointless. For Britain has received no media support and have even been dismissed with the usual childish ‘racist’ accusation. I don’t think the word ‘racist’ has any meaning any more, other than to say ‘you don’t agree with me, so you’re a racist.’ People can be utterly, utterly stupid.
For Britain uses Morrisey’s support as a recruitment tool on both social media and its website.
Morrissey, a famed vegan and animal rights activist, was fiercely criticized on Twitter for wearing the pin. NBC’s “The Tonight Show” also faced backlash for booking the singer as tweeters recalled Fallon’s normalizing of then-GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump during that interview in 2016.
NBC did not immediately return HuffPost’s request for comment.
Morrissey has committed career suicide. You cant be the voice of the loner & sensitive outsider & support a far right racist micro-party such as For Britain. He has destroyed his raison d'etre & needs to understand that what he stands for is unacceptable. https://t.co/C9NIn76wLS
— Gerry Hassan (@GerryHassan) May 14, 2019
Fallon loves having his right-wing mates on doesn't he? Morrissey will be performing in a Screwdriver tshirt next https://t.co/ffbo6Qa8gK
— Hello Baby! (@Great_O_Hex) May 15, 2019
Morrissey supports a far right party full of racists and nazis. https://t.co/SOiV5lSJBO
— HOPE not hate (@hopenothate) May 14, 2019
Lotta people rightfully talking about how much Morrissey sucks but more people should also talk about how much Jimmy Fallon sucks https://t.co/ox1arbJsfM
— kabir (@sausagehobbit) May 14, 2019
The Smiths are my favorite band ever and Morrissey’s solo work is up there, and it’s time for me to toss my Bona Drag CD on a bonfire. Can’t support this guy in any way. https://t.co/J8zvTwtfrM
— Dan O'Sullivan (@Bro_Pair) May 14, 2019
surprised jimmy fallon didn't tousle this mf's hair https://t.co/u8mH5YggHL
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) May 15, 2019
Article doesn’t specify if Fallon playfully mussed Morrissey’s hair https://t.co/0M18A4ZezH
— Matt Kinna (@matt_kinna) May 14, 2019
Shame on Morrissey for courting racism @ForBritainChairhttps://t.co/2GiZjvZ39j
Fallon don’t give a platform to hate, please
— Yahia Lababidi (@YahiaLababidi) May 15, 2019
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.